Businessman killed outside Mitford Hospital in brutal attack

Sohag, a scrap wire trader, has been killed in a turf war over control of illicit copper sales

Assailants have beaten and hacked a trader to death in brutal fashion outside Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital, allegedly over a dispute tied to illegal wire trading.

The victim, Md Sohag, 32, ran a scrap copper and wire business in Mitford.

He was originally from Barishal.

The attack took place near Gate No. 3 of the hospital around 4pm on Wednesday, Kotwali Police chief Md Moniruzzaman said.

Sohag was critically injured in a clash between two groups and rushed to the hospital’s emergency department, where doctors declared him dead on arrival, the officer said.

“A rivalry over local dominance and control of the illicit wire market led to the attack,” said the officer.

A trader familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “A long-running black market exists here for copper and white wires. Sohag was involved in a power struggle with another businessman over its control.”

Police say an investigation is under way and efforts are being made to arrest those involved in the killing.