A 26-year-old man has died in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district after allegedly being tied to an electricity pole and repeatedly beaten by a group of people who suspected him of theft.
The incident took place on Tuesday morning at the home of Mawlana Kefayet Ullah in Miyazir Para, in the East Fakiraghona area of Boromaheshkhali Union under Maheshkhali upazila, police said.
The deceased was identified as Mohammad Faisal, son of Nurul Alam, who lived in the same area.
A video circulating on social media appears to show several young people assaulting Faisal while he was tied to an electricity pole. In the footage, he can be seen being struck on the back with a brick. The circumstances surrounding the recording and the identities of everyone seen in the video are expected to be examined as part of the investigation.
Faisal’s father, Nurul Alam, said he learnt of the incident after waking up following the Fajr prayer. He was reportedly told that his son had been beaten and taken to hospital.
“People came and told me that my son had been beaten and taken to hospital. When I went there, I found him dead,” he said.
Nurul Alam said Faisal worked with him as a road labourer and had left home early on Tuesday to find people for work.
He also questioned the allegation that his son had stolen anything. “If my son had committed a theft, there should have been a mobile phone, money, gold or something else found with him. Nothing like that was found,” he said.
Maheshkhali police station officer-in-charge Mohammad Abdus Sultan said Faisal had been detained on suspicion that he had entered Mawlana Kefayet Ullah’s house and an adjoining steel furniture workshop intending to steal.
According to the officer, Faisal was beaten after being detained and tied up. He said Faisal may have died before being taken to hospital and was declared dead after he was brought there.
Police have detained a young man from the house for questioning in connection with the assault. The officer said legal proceedings would follow.
The officer also said police had received local information alleging that Faisal had a habit of stealing. However, when asked whether Faisal had any previous criminal case or police record relating to theft, he said there was no such record.
Local chairman condemns beating
Enayet Ullah Babul, chairman of Boromaheshkhali Union Parishad, said he had learnt that Faisal was detained and assaulted after being suspected of entering the house to steal.
He stressed that even if the theft allegation were proven, beating someone to death could not be justified.
“No, no, no. He cannot be killed like that. Even if he committed theft, he cannot be beaten to death,” the chairman said.
No case had been filed in connection with the incident at the time of the report.
Nurul Alam said Faisal’s body was taken to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for a post-mortem examination. After the examination, the family brought the body home.
He said the family would decide whether to file a case after the burial.
Police said legal action would be taken after receiving a complaint from the victim’s family. Investigators are expected to establish the circumstances that led to Faisal being detained, identify those involved in the assault and determine how he died.
The incident has also raised concerns over the use of violence against people suspected of wrongdoing. Allegations of theft are matters for law enforcement and the courts to investigate, rather than grounds for private individuals to administer punishment themselves.
