A former secretary to the government and ex-Deputy Commissioner of Kushtia, 77-year-old Abul Khair, was violently assaulted outside his home in Magura after objecting to a motorcycle obstructing a narrow residential street. The incident, which occurred around 1:00 pm on Monday in the College Para district, also left his personal driver injured when he attempted to intervene. Local law enforcement has officially registered a criminal case against a 40-year-old resident named Unmesh, who has been identified as the primary suspect.
According to police records and local sources, Mr Khair had arrived at his family home in Magura from Dhaka earlier that morning. At approximately 11:30 am, he boarded his private car to attend to official matters at the local Department of Social Services. As his vehicle proceeded down the narrow alleyway opposite Sonali Bank near Primary School No. 3, his path was blocked by an improperly parked motorcycle. When the senior official asked the motorcycle owner to clear the passage, a heated verbal argument broke out between Mr Khair and Unmesh.
The confrontation took a far more dangerous turn an hour and a half later when Mr Khair returned home. Upon arriving at his front gate, he discovered the same motorcycle intentionally placed across the street, once again blocking entry. When he requested that the vehicle be moved, the suspect approached the car in an aggressive manner and demanded that the former secretary wind down his window. As soon as Mr Khair lowered the glass to speak, the assailant unleashed a flurry of punches through the window before picking up a brick from the roadside and striking the elderly man on the head. The impact caused a severe laceration above his right eye, resulting in heavy bleeding.
Witnessing the assault, Mr Khair’s driver, 42-year-old Kamal Hossain, alongside his caretaker, 35-year-old Aliul Islam, rushed to protect him. However, the attacker and his associates responded by hurling bricks and stones at the rescuers, striking and injuring the driver. The commotion quickly alerted neighbours and passers-by, forcing the assailants to issue death threats before fleeing the scene. Local residents promptly came to the victims’ aid, transporting both Mr Khair and his driver to the Magura 250-Bed District Hospital, where medical staff administered emergency care and dressed their injuries.
The brazen attack in broad daylight has stirred deep concern among residents regarding public safety and rowdy behaviour in residential areas. Addressing the incident, Faruq Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge of Magura Sadar Police Station, confirmed that a formal investigation is underway following the submission of a written complaint. Police units have been dispatched to track down and arrest the primary suspect and any accomplices involved.
