A leader of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was strangled to death at his residence in West Rajabazar area in the capital Dhaka early Tuesday.

After the murder, the miscreants fled with gold ornaments and five lakh taka in cash, according to the police and family members.

Family members, however, suspected that this was not a mere theft, but a planned murder.

The deceased, Anwar Ullah, 65, a homeopathy practitioner hailed from Cumilla, was vice-president of the Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka North’s West Rajabazar ward unit, said the police.

Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station officer-in-charge Md Monirul Islam said that the incident occurred between 2:30am and 5:00am on the day.

‘Two masked men entered the house by cutting grilles. They tied Anwar Ullah and his wife’s hands and feet, and strangled Anwar to death. They took away gold and cash before fleeing the scene,’ he said.

Filing a case was under process regarding the incident, Monirul said.

‘Primarily, the police believe that it was case of theft. However, an investigation is going on to find out the actual motive behind the killing and efforts are on to identify the perpetrators and arrest them,’ added the police official.

The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka city north in a statement on Tuesday condemned the incident and demanded ensuring exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

Pointing to the recent killings of political leaders, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka city north in the statement expressed concern over the deterioration of law and order.

‘The reason for the killings must be revealed as soon as possible, and those responsible must be arrested and punished. Otherwise, people will lose trust in the interim government,’ the statement said.