Three people were detained last night for questioning over the murder of Jagannath University student Jobayed Hossen. However, no case had been filed as of last night over the incident that occurred on Sunday evening.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Lalbagh Division Deputy Commissioner Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami confirmed the development to The Daily Star.

"During a special drive, we have detained three suspects. Their identities will not be disclosed at this time due to the ongoing investigation. A detailed briefing will be held tomorrow morning," he said.

Jobayed, a student of the Statistics Department (2019–20 session) and a convening member of the JnU Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, had gone to his student's flat in Old Dhaka's Armanitola for a private tuition session when he was killed. His body was found on the staircase.

According to police, he had been tutoring her for about a year at the five-storey building.

The student was detained on Sunday night for primary questioning after Jobayed's body was recovered. Following her statement, investigators identified Mahir Rahman, a student of Sheikh Borhanuddin Post Graduate College, and his friend Nafis as the main suspects.

Bangshal Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam told The Daily Star, "During primary interrogation, we learned that the detainee and Mahir grew up in the same neighbourhood and had been in a relationship since school. When the girl expressed her liking for Jobayed, Mahir became furious. We suspect he killed Jobayed out of rage with a friend's help."

Adding that jealousy may have been the motive, he said, "During questioning, the girl appeared very calm. She claimed to know nothing about the murder, and we are verifying her statement."

Asked whether accused Mahir Rahman's mother handed him over to police, the Lalbagh DC said, "I have no information on this. Full details will be shared tomorrow [today] morning."

Contacted, Mahir's mother said, "Mahir returned home on Sunday evening with a wounded, blood-stained hand and told me about the incident. I first arranged for his treatment and took him to a hospital. The following morning, I took him to Chawkbazar Police Station and handed him over.

"My son had been in a relationship with that girl for nine years. They grew up together, and over time their bond turned romantic. But recently the girl told my son that she no longer wanted to continue the relationship and introduced him to that boy [Jobayed].

"My son met that boy again that evening, and they went into the building to talk. He asked Mahir to delete the girl's photos from his phone. Another friend of Mahir was also there, waiting outside the building. An argument broke out between Mahir and Jobayed at one point, and during the scuffle, Jobayed was accidentally killed. I handed my son over to police because he committed a crime. That boy [Jobayed] was also someone's son."

About the case filing, Jobayed's elder brother, Enayet Hossain Soikot, said, "We wanted to file a case naming the girl, her parents, Mahir, and Nafis. But the OC advised us not to include too many names, saying it might weaken the case."

Asked about this, OC Rafiqul said, "We will record the case. I advised them to discuss with university teachers before finalising the names of the accused."

At a joint press briefing by the university administration and police earlier in the day, the DC said, "We're working to ensure that no innocent person is harassed. I've spoken to Jobayed's father, who wishes to file the case only against the actual culprits. Once we confirm the prime suspect, a case will be filed accordingly."

JnU Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Rezaul Karim said, "We are profoundly shocked. The university has been cooperating with law enforcement from the beginning. The real perpetrators will be brought under the law as soon as possible."

Jobayed's first namaz-e-janaza was held on the JnU campus yesterday before his body was taken to his ancestral home in Cumilla.

During the funeral prayer, his father Md Mobarak Hossen said tearfully, "I sent my son to university to study, but today he's returning home as a corpse. What will I tell his mother?"

"I'm 58 years old; my strength is gone. I want justice for my son's murder," he said, appealing to the chief adviser. He added that the deputy commissioner assured him that the killers would be punished. "I'm taking my son home now, and I'm grateful to everyone who stood beside us."

Around midnight Sunday, hundreds of JnU students blocked Tanti Bazar intersection and later surrounded Bangshal Police Station, demanding the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the killers.