Golam Kibria Johnny, arrested on July 13 from Gendaria in the capital, gave the confessional statement under 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code to Magistrate Nani Gopal Biswas.

Assailants gunned down Sagir, 38, Dhaka city (south) general secretary of ruling BNP's youth front Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, about 60 yards off his house on Nasir Uddin Sarder Lane in Sutrapur.

In his confession, Johnny said he along with seven others including Tepa Jewel, Nahid, Geshu [Shaon], and four unidentified people committed the killing.

Shaon died the same day in police custody, but the cops claimed he was killed during a shootout while fleeing after Sagir's murder.

Johnny, a third-year degree student at Kabi Nazrul Government College, however, denied shooting Sagir.

He said they held a meeting 10 days before the mission on the roof of a five-storey building in Keraniganj with Dakat Shaheed.

"Boro bhai (Dakat Shaheed) there instructed us about our operation," he told the magistrate.

Johnny said he along with Nahid reached the spot by a rickshaw about 20 minutes before the killing. "I was smoking standing several hundred yards away and heard some gunshots," he said.

"Nahid told me moments later that the operation is done and Geshu shot Sagir to death." Johnny could not say the reason behind the killing. "I worked as per our Boro bhai's instructions."

The magistrate sent him to jail after recording his statement.

Earlier on July 13, Tepa Jewel also confessed to involving in the murder.