BNP activist hacked to death in Feni by burqa-clad attackers

Local residents hand over a suspect to police after the daylight assault

A BNP worker has allegedly been hacked to death in Feni's Sonagazi Upazila by rivals dressed in burqas.

The murder occurred on Tuesday morning, reportedly due to a long-standing personal dispute.

A suspect has been detained by the public and handed over to police.

The incident took place at the intersection near SAJIDA Foundation on the Olama Bazar-Sawdagarhat Road in the Chorchandia union, Sonagazi Model Police Station chief Bayezid Akon confirmed.

The deceased, identified as Abul Hashem, 48, was a resident of the Upazila’s Chardorbesh union.

He lived with his family in a rented house on the Islam Muhuri Road in Sonagazi municipality.

Hashem was also a close associate of Gias Uddin, alias Gias Chairman, the former president of Upazila BNP.

The detained suspect, Mohammad Russell, 35, hails from the same area.

According to police and witnesses, Hashem was travelling by motorcycle from his house in the municipal town to his village home in the morning.

On the way, several individuals wearing burqas intercepted his motorcycle.

At that moment, several more people emerged from the roadside armed with sharp weapons and indiscriminately stabbed him before fleeing the scene.

Local residents rushed Hashem to the Sonagazi Upazila Health Complex, where he received initial treatment before being transferred to the Feni 250 Bed District Sadar Hospital.

Due to his deteriorating condition, he was then transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries while en route, passing away in Cumilla’s Chauddagram.

Hashem's nephew Mohammad Tipu claimed that his uncle had been in a land dispute with a neighbour Md Belal.

The conflict reached its peak on May 31, 2021, resulting in a confrontation that led to Belal's death.

Following this incident, Amir Hossain Nona Mia filed a case naming Hashem and 10 others as accused.

Hashem was later arrested and spent nearly three years in jail before being released on bail a few months ago.

After his release, Hashem resumed farming and livestock rearing as before.

Tipu believes this background led to the fatal attack on his uncle.

Shamim Hossain, former joint convenor of the Chorchandia union volunteer wing of the BNP, said Hashem was an active BNP worker.

He also noted that the detained suspect, Russell, had recently made several Facebook posts targeting Hashem.

Jamal Uddin Sentu, senior joint convenor of Sonagazi BNP and former municipal mayor, confirmed Hashem’s political affiliation and demanded that the attackers be identified and brought to justice through a proper investigation.

OC Bayezid said the body had been recovered and sent to the morgue at Feni Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examination.

He added that efforts were under way to track down others involved.

The officer confirmed that the victim’s family was preparing to file a case over the killing.