In a chilling display of lawlessness, a dedicated activist of the Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was assassinated in broad daylight on Wednesday evening. The victim, 50-year-old Muhammad Abdul Majid, was gunned down in the heart of Alimiahhat Bazar in Raozan Upazila, Chittagong, sending shockwaves through a region already beleaguered by escalating political violence.
A Calculated Ambush
The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 pm, a mere 500 metres from the Purba Gujra police investigation centre. Witnesses recount a scene of clinical brutality: as Mr Majid was walking home from the market, a gang of masked assailants arrived on motorcycles. Without hesitation, they opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene into the evening gloom.
Local residents rushed the critically injured Majid to the Raozan Upazila Health Complex, but the medical intervention was in vain. Dr Tiblu Kanti Dey, the Resident Medical Officer, confirmed that the victim was deceased upon arrival. A preliminary medical assessment revealed that Mr Majid sustained three fatal gunshot wounds to his chest, waist, and just above the eye.
A Pattern of Unchecked Violence
The grieving widow, Shahnaz Begum, revealed that this was not the first attempt on her husband’s life. “He survived a previous attack,” she lamented, “but this time, they ensured he did not return.”
This assassination bears a striking resemblance to the murder of Muhammad Jane Alam, another Jubo Dal leader, who was killed in an identical fashion just 500 metres away on 5 January. Despite six weeks passing since that incident, local law enforcement has yet to make a single arrest, fueling allegations of institutional inertia.
Escalation of Violence in Raozan (Post-August 2024)
The political landscape in Raozan has become increasingly volatile following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024. The following data highlights the severity of the unrest:
| Category of Incident | Reported Figures |
|---|---|
| Total Murders | 21 |
| Politically Motivated Killings | 15 |
| Gunfights & Violent Clashes | 100+ |
| Total Injuries (including gunshot wounds) | 350+ |
Judicial and Police Response
Sajedul Islam, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Raozan Police Station, stated that units have been deployed to the scene to secure evidence and conduct an investigation. However, the sheer frequency of these attacks has left the local populace feeling increasingly vulnerable.
Since the transition of power in August, Raozan has emerged as a flashpoint for retaliatory violence. With 21 homicides recorded in just over six months, the region is grappling with a breakdown of public order that threatens to overshadow the national democratic transition.
The BNP and its affiliates have called for an immediate and impartial inquiry into the murder of Mr Majid, demanding that the “masked motorcyclists” be brought to justice to prevent further erosion of the rule of law in Chittagong.
