Young man hacked, limbs severed; two Jamaat supporters arrested

In a gruesome attack in Shibganj Upazila of Chapainawabganj, 25-year-old Abu Sufian was brutally assaulted and tied to an electric pole, resulting in severe injuries. Doctors have reported that both his hands and one of his legs were nearly severed in the attack. Following the incident, police filed a case at Shibganj Police Station and arrested two Jamaat-e-Islami supporters in connection with the assault.

The victim, Abu Sufian Siju, hails from Bajitpur village in Shyampur, son of Rabiul Islam. The arrested individuals, Shah Alam (22) and his brother Abdur Razzak (23), reside in Khochpara village, Shyampur. Razzak, a madrasa teacher, also owns a pharmacy near Umarpur Ghat, close to where the attack occurred. Local sources note that while neither of the accused holds a formal position in Jamaat, they have actively participated in its processions and meetings.

According to local reports, the attack is linked to a family dispute. Sufian’s cousin’s daughter had eloped with a young man named Mostak from a neighbouring area. Following their marriage, the girl’s father filed a case alleging she was a minor, resulting in their temporary imprisonment. Upon release, she returned to her father’s home and subsequently began living with Sufian’s family.

Recently, Mostak was reportedly seen near Sufian’s residence attempting to forcibly take the girl. When Sufian intervened, a confrontation ensued, which was later defused by local residents. On the evening of 24 December, while standing on the Umarpur Ghat bridge, Sufian was attacked by the assailants, who hacked at his hands and leg. He was initially taken to Chapainawabganj District Hospital and later referred to Rajshahi Medical College before being admitted to the National Orthopaedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Institute in Dhaka for ongoing treatment.

Sufian told the media that the attackers, whom he identified as Jamaat-Shibir affiliates, bound him to the pole and assaulted him for almost one and a half hours. He named Abdur Razzak, Anwar of Sharatnagar, and Nur, brother of poultry trader Abu Saeed, among others as participants in the attack.

On 26 December, Sufian’s father filed a case naming three individuals along with 12–15 unknown assailants. Police subsequently arrested two of the accused.

Sufian is reportedly a known gang leader in the area, with multiple prior cases including extortion and robbery. In response to the arrests, a human chain protest was organised on 26 December in Chama Bazar, Shyampur Union, under the banner of ‘Shyampur Union Anti-Terrorist Front’.

Police officials confirmed the arrests, clarifying that the detained individuals are not being prosecuted for any political affiliation, and investigations into other suspects are ongoing.

Jamaat’s Response
Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly denied involvement in the incident. In a joint statement, Shibganj Upazila Amir Maulana Sadikul Islam and Secretary Md. Babul Islam described media reports linking the attack to Jamaat-Shibir as false and defamatory. They stated that the victim is a known extortionist and criminal, and the attack may have been a reaction to his personal offences rather than politically motivated violence.

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