DHAKA, Sept 6, 2026 (BSS) - Police have arrested a bus driver and two staff members over the killing of a passenger, whose body was recovered from Dhaka's Banani area on Sept 4.

The arrestees are bus driver Sohel Rana, 41, supervisor Saju alias Limon, 26, and helper Monir Hossain, 19, said a DMP press release.

Police said the victim, identified as Ismail Hossain, 49, had left his home in Jamalpur carrying around Tk 5 lakh from a land sale and was travelling to Kashimpur in Gazipur.

The man found dead on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway with his mouth taped shut was carrying Tk 500,000 from a land sale, money his family said he was taking to Gazipur to help pay for his daughter's wedding.

CCTV footage from the elevated expressway led investigators to a passenger bus named Raj Classic. 

The bus was seized from Mohakhali Bus Terminal and the three suspects were arrested in separate drives.

According to police, the suspects noticed Ismail carrying a large amount of cash after he paid his fare. 

They allegedly restrained him with adhesive tape, sealed his mouth and nose, and strangled him with a towel after other passengers had been dropped off.

They then allegedly carried his body to Dhaka and dumped it between pillars 179 and 180 on the Kakoli-Kuril section of the elevated expressway before returning to Mohakhali.

Police seized the bus, two towels, two bloodstained seat covers and a feature phone allegedly linked to the crime. 

The three suspects have reportedly confessed to the killing during initial interrogation.

A murder case has been filed with Banani Police Station.