A former municipal councillor and a leader of the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League’s political ally, the Bangladesh Awami League’s youth wing, was killed after being attacked with sharp weapons by a group of unidentified assailants in Bhairab, Kishoreganj.
Mohammad Al Amin Saikat, 40, was attacked near Gopal Jiur Temple in the Tinpatti area of Bhairab town at around midnight on Sunday. He sustained serious injuries in the assault and was later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. Doctors at the hospital’s emergency department pronounced him dead after his arrival.
Saikat was the son of the late Jasim Uddin of Bhairabpur village in Bhairab. He had served as the general secretary of the Kishoreganj municipal unit of the Bangladesh Awami League’s youth wing and was also a former councillor of Bhairab Municipality.
According to his brother-in-law, Mohammad Bakibillah, Saikat was standing near Gopal Jiur Temple when four to five unidentified men suddenly attacked him. The assailants reportedly struck him repeatedly with sharp weapons before fleeing the scene.
Local residents later informed the family about the attack and helped rescue the injured man. Saikat was initially taken to a local hospital in Bhairab. As his condition deteriorated, his family arranged to transfer him to Dhaka for specialised treatment.
He was brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital at around 3am. Despite the efforts of the medical team, the emergency department doctors declared him dead.
Mohammad Faruk, an inspector and in-charge of the police outpost at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, confirmed the death, citing the attending doctors. He said the body had been kept in the hospital morgue and that the relevant police station had been informed.
Bhairab Police Station officer-in-charge Mohammad Mahbub Rahman also confirmed the incident. He said police were working to identify and arrest those responsible for the attack.
The motive behind the killing and the identities of the attackers had not been established at the time of reporting. Police have begun efforts to determine what led to the assault and who was involved. No arrests have been reported so far.
The incident has drawn attention because the victim was a former elected representative of the municipality as well as a local political organiser. The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and whether the killing was linked to any previous dispute or other motive.
