A 34-year-old shopkeeper was injured in a shooting after a group of masked assailants allegedly entered his grocery shop in Begumganj upazila of Noakhali on Saturday night. The victim, identified as Mizanur Rahman, known locally as Mizan, sustained gunshot wounds to his abdomen, left hand and left thigh. His condition deteriorated after initial treatment, prompting doctors to refer him to Dhaka for advanced medical care.
The incident took place at around 10pm on 17 October at Mizan Store, located in Jinu Market in Ward No. 5 of Amanullapur Union.
Mizan is the son of Ahmad Ullah and a resident of Joynarayanpur village in the same union. He is also a supporter of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, according to local sources.
Assailants allegedly opened fire at close range
According to local accounts, Mizan was sitting in his grocery shop and serving customers when a group of 20 to 25 armed men wearing masks entered the premises. The assailants allegedly fired at him from close range before fleeing the scene.
The bullets struck the left side of his abdomen, his left hand and his left thigh. He collapsed on the ground after being shot, prompting local residents to rush to his aid.
Residents rescued the injured shopkeeper and took him to Begumganj Upazila Health Complex, where he received initial treatment. He was subsequently transferred to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital for further medical attention. As his condition worsened, he was referred to Dhaka for more specialised treatment.
The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the motive and the identities of those responsible, remain under investigation.
Jamaat leader alleges previous attack
Mohammad Abu Zayed, president of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Begumganj upazila unit, confirmed that Mizan was a supporter of the party.
Abu Zayed alleged that Mizan had also been attacked in 2020 by individuals associated with the Awami League. According to his account, Mizan was beaten during that incident and subsequently handed over to the police.
He claimed that masked assailants had again targeted the shopkeeper, this time entering his business premises and shooting him.
Abu Zayed further alleged that individuals associated with the Awami League and Chhatra League were involved in the latest attack. He condemned the incident and called on the authorities to identify and arrest those responsible without delay.
However, these allegations have not been independently verified, and the police have not publicly confirmed the identities or political affiliations of the attackers.
Police inspect the scene
Begumganj Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shamsuzzaman confirmed the shooting, stating that the shopkeeper had been injured by pellet gunfire.
He said police visited the scene after receiving information about the incident and had begun investigating who was responsible.
The officer added that further legal action would be taken in accordance with the law once a formal written complaint had been received.
No arrests were reported in the information provided about the incident.
The attack has raised concerns over the safety of local business owners, particularly as the assailants reportedly entered a shop while its owner was carrying out routine business activities. Establishing the motive, identifying the attackers and determining whether the shooting was connected to an earlier dispute will be central to the investigation.
For now, the police investigation remains ongoing, while Mizan has been referred to Dhaka for further treatment. His latest medical condition has not been disclosed in the available information.
