Rehab Patient Beaten to Death; Survivors Riot

A rehabilitation facility in the Bhanga Upazila of Faridpur became the scene of a fatal incident and subsequent rioting on Friday, 23 January 2026. Allegations have surfaced that a young man, Razzak Matubbor, was beaten to death by the staff of the ‘Alor Disha’ Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre. The victim's death sparked a violent revolt among the remaining patients, necessitating an intervention by the joint forces.

A Fatal Admission

Razzak Matubbor, the son of Samad Matubbor from Hasamdia village, had been admitted to the facility in Nawpara on Tuesday night to seek treatment for substance abuse. However, just three days later, on Friday morning, the family received a distressing call from the centre claiming Razzak had fallen "slightly ill."

Upon arriving at the Bhanga Hospital, the family was devastated to find Razzak’s lifeless body. According to his relatives and local police, the victim's body bore multiple bruises, with blood emanating from his nose and ears—clear indicators of severe physical trauma. Following the death, the owner of the centre, Mizanur Rahman, and his staff reportedly locked the gates from the outside and fled the premises to evade arrest.

Incident Summary: Alor Disha Rehabilitation Centre

Patient Uprising and Rescue

The tragedy took a volatile turn in the afternoon. As police officers entered the building to review CCTV footage, the frustration and fear of the remaining patients boiled over. Approximately 51 patients, who had been locked inside by the fleeing staff, broke through the interior doors and began a retaliatory rampage, vandalising the centre’s furniture and equipment.

Peace was eventually restored when members of the Bangladesh Army and the police launched a joint operation to secure the building. Abdul Alim, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bhanga Police Station, confirmed that the body has been sent to the Faridpur morgue for a formal post-mortem examination.

Administrative Response

The authorities moved swiftly to shut down the controversial establishment. Shirin Akhter, Deputy Director of the District Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, and Sadrul Alam, the Assistant Commissioner (Land), arrived at the scene to oversee the crisis.

"The centre has been officially sealed," stated Shirin Akhter. She confirmed that the 51 rescued patients were taken into protective custody and are being systematically handed over to their families as they arrive at the station. Legal proceedings against the absconding owner and staff are currently being processed.