A Bangladeshi expatriate businessman, Kazi Mohiuddin Palash (36), was brutally murdered in Witbank, South Africa. After being missing for three days, his body was recovered from the freezer of his own business establishment by local police.
Discovery of the Body
- The body was retrieved on Thursday, 11 September, at approximately 8:00 pm Bangladesh time.
- The incident has cast a shadow of grief over the Bangladeshi expatriate community in South Africa.
- Local residents have demanded the swift arrest of the perpetrator and exemplary punishment for the crime.
According to the South African police, Palash was killed by one of his employees, a Malawian national, who struck him with a hammer. Following the attack, the accused hid the body in the freezer and fled the scene.
- The accused is currently on the run, and a manhunt is underway.
- Police investigations, aided by CCTV footage, uncovered the sequence of events that led to Palash’s death.
Personal Background
- Kazi Mohiuddin Palash was a resident of Gabuya village, Ward No. 5, Eklashpur Union, Begumganj Upazila, Noakhali, Bangladesh.
- He was the son of the late Kazi Aminul Ullah and father of two children.
- His brother, Kazi Alamgir, a rural doctor, said:
“Palash had been running his business in South Africa for nearly 14 years. The Malawian employee brutally attacked him with a hammer and hid his body in the freezer. We could not locate him for three days, and his phone was switched off. Police later uncovered the incident through CCTV footage, but the accused is still absconding.”
Family Reaction
- Begumganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Arifur Rahman stated that Palash had migrated to South Africa 14 years ago to fulfil his family’s dreams.
- He left behind a wife and two young children, and his death has plunged the entire area into mourning.
- The family has requested government assistance to repatriate Palash’s body to Bangladesh.
Summary Table: Key Facts
| Details | Information |
| Victim | Kazi Mohiuddin Palash, 36, Bangladeshi businessman |
| Location | Witbank, South Africa |
| Date Body Found | 11 September, 8:00 pm (Bangladesh time) |
| Cause of Death | Hammer attack by employee (Malawian national) |
| Discovery | Body hidden in shop freezer; CCTV footage revealed the incident |
| Family | Wife and two children; brother Kazi Alamgir |
| Current Status of Suspect | Absconding; manhunt underway |
This tragic incident has shaken the Bangladeshi expatriate community and highlighted concerns about the safety of migrant workers abroad.
