Suspect arrested for hacking man to death in Barguna

Police have arrested a suspect in the case over the much-publicised killing of a man in front of his wife in Barguna.

It comes after a video depicting a man being stabbed by a group of assailants in broad daylight as his spouse desperately tries to save him, went viral on social media.

The suspect, identified only as Chandan, is among 12 accused in the case and was apprehended on Wednesday night from the district town, said Barguna Police OC Abir Md Hossain.

The case was initiated by Dulal Shorif, the father of the victim Refat Shorif, 23, on Thursday morning, he said.

Refat came under attack on College Road around 10:30am on Wednesday following a “dispute over winning the woman’s heart”, police said.

Refat and Nayon Bond of Croke area in the municipality loved the woman, a student of a college in the town, according to OC Abir.

“Refat and the girl married two months ago, but Nayon claimed her to be his wife,” the OC said.

The dispute then took a violent turn as a group of youths began attacking Refat with sharp objects.

He was subsequently admitted to the Barguna General Hospital where the doctors referred him to the Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical Hospital as his condition deteriorated.

Refat died around 4pm while being transferred to the medical college hospital, the OC said.   

The viral video of the incident has drawn sharp reactions across the country, with many condemning the passersby who failed to stop the assailants despite the desperate screams and efforts of Refat's wife to save him.

His wife later named Nayon, Rifat Forazi, Rabbi, Akan and several others in connection with the attack.