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Published : 12 Apr 2026, 06:57 PM
Police in Kushtia have said the circulation of an old video on social media helped intensify tensions ahead of the killing of self-styled “Sufi shrine leader” Shamim Reza, who was beaten and hacked to death at his shrine in Daulatpur.
On Sunday, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Jasim Uddin said the resurfaced video played a key role in inflaming the situation before the attack.
“Police were present at the scene and attempted to rescue Shamim,” he said.
“But the attackers were far more numerous than the police personnel, and the situation quickly went out of control. We are working to identify those involved in the killing inside his residence,” he added.
On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of people stormed the “Shamim Babar Darbar Sharif” in south-west Philipnagar under Daulatpur Upazila, accusing the shrine authorities of religious disrespect.
The “mob” reportedly vandalised and set fire to parts of the premises before attacking Shamim with sticks and sharp weapons, killing him on the spot.
Three of his followers -- Mohan Ali, Zamirun and Jubayer, who were identified by single names -- were also seriously injured and are receiving treatment at hospital.
Following the incident, the locality remains tense.
On Sunday, a delegation including the district commissioner, local MP, police, the Border Guard Bangladesh, Army and RAB officials visited the site.
The postmortem examination was completed around 2:30pm, after which the body was handed over to the family.
His elder brother Fazlur Rahman said the burial would take place after Asr prayers at the family graveyard adjacent to the shrine under law enforcement protection.
Despite 24 hours passing since the incident, no case has been filed and no arrests have been made so far.
District police said forces have been deployed to maintain order. The district administration said the situation is now under control.
Local MP Reza Ahmed Bacchu condemned the violence, stressing that grievances over religious issues must be addressed through legal channels, not “mob” action.
Locals said Shamim had established the shrine in 2018 on ancestral land after leaving his job to run the spiritual centre.
