A 56-year-old man was fatally struck with a sharp machete by his elder brother following a heated altercation over homestead land in Daulatpur upazila, Kushtia on Saturday. The incident took place at around 2:00 pm in Dangamarka Madhyapara village under Adabaria Union. The victim, identified as Ataul Malitha, succumbed to severe head injuries while undergoing emergency treatment at Kushtia Medical College Hospital later that evening at approximately 6:00 pm.
According to police and local residents, Ataul Malitha, the younger son of the late Rahatullah Malitha, had been embroiled in a long-standing dispute with his elder brother, Tofazzal Malitha, regarding the demarcation and ownership of their inherited homestead property. Tensions escalated on Saturday afternoon when a fresh argument broke out between the siblings behind Ataul’s residence.
As the verbal confrontation intensified, a physical scuffle ensued between the two brothers. In a fit of rage, Tofazzal fetched a heavy sharp weapon, locally known as a ‘da’, and struck Ataul directly on the head. The severity of the blow left Ataul bleeding profusely and unconscious on the ground, prompting panicked family members and neighbours to rush to the scene.
Distressed relatives and local residents immediately rescued the critically injured man and transported him to the Daulatpur Upazila Health Complex. Attending physicians provided primary emergency care, but given the grave nature of his cranial trauma, they advised an immediate transfer to Kushtia Medical College Hospital for specialised treatment. Although he was rushed to the tertiary facility in Kushtia, medical staff declared him dead shortly after 6:00 pm.
Confirming the fatality, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Daulatpur Police Station, Khaledur Rahman, stated that the fatal assault was the direct result of a domestic dispute over real estate. Police have sent the body to the hospital morgue for a formal autopsy. The officer added that law enforcement authorities are currently processing a murder case based on a complaint filed by the deceased’s family, while police teams are conducting active drives to locate and apprehend the fleeing suspect.
