‘July activist’ stabbed to death in Cox’s Bazar

An activist of the Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal, who was also known locally for his involvement in the July 2024 mass uprising, has been stabbed to death in Cox’s Bazar.

The incident occurred at 10:30pm on Tuesday in the Kabita Chattar area of the town, said Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station chief (OC) Samiuddin.

The dead man has been identified as Khorshed Alam, who hailed from the Sadar Upazila’s Islor Ghona area.

He was involved with the town unit of the Chhatra Dal, the BNP’s student affiliate. Although he did not hold any official post in the organisation, Khorshed was an active member, said Inzamamul Haque, member secretary of the town’s Chhatra Dal unit.

Khorshed was in the Kabita Chattar area when he was surrounded by a group of people and attacked, police said, citing his family and witnesses. At one point, he was stabbed and seriously injured.

His friends and locals rescued him and took him to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, where a doctor declared him dead.

Police have taken a woman named Tarin, who was with Khorshed at the time, into custody for questioning.

Before she was taken into custody, Tarin told the media: “A group of criminals surrounded Khorshed in the Kabita Chattar beach area and demanded his valuables from him. At one point, they accused him of beating a person named ‘Arif’ and stabbed him.”

OC Samiuddin said, “A woman accompanying the victim was taken into custody. Witnesses and those close to Khorshed are being questioned. We are working to identify and arrest those involved in this incident.”