A murder case has been filed over the lyincing of Wahiduzzaman Shamim, a man with mental health issues, in Debhata, Satkhira, following allegations of religious insult and incitement through Facebook Live and posts.
Shamim’s elder brother, Abdul Jalil, filed the case with Debhata police station on Thursday night, naming 10 people, with Fazlul Haque Ameni of Parulia named as the prime accused. Another 200-250 unidentified people have also been accused.
Police have arrested two people in connection with the case, including Moktar Hossain and Asadul Molla.
According to the case statement and family members, Shamim became involved in a domestic dispute with his wife on Monday evening and allegedly used abusive language. A local person later circulated an audio recording of the exchange on social media.
Claiming that the recording contained derogatory remarks, local resident Fazlul Haque Ameni went live on Facebook and called on the people to attack Shamim.
A mob subsequently attacked the family’s home and vandalised property.
Shamim was also assaulted near Subarnabad market, according to his elder brother, Abdul Jalil.
Following the attack, Shamim returned home and consumed poison, his family said.
He was taken to the chamber of a local physician, MA Sabur, in the Kuliya area, where he received treatment and was kept under observation.
On Tuesday, a mob entered the doctor’s chamber and attacked him again. Police intervened, rescued Shamim and took him to Sakhipur Health Complex.
However, the violence did not end there.
According to the family, another large mob entered the health facility, assaulted Shamim and dragged him outside.
Jalil alleged that Ameni led the crowd, which he estimated numbered more than 1,000 people.
The attackers allegedly slammed Shamim against a wall and beat him severely.
Police subsequently recovered him and transferred him to Satkhira Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
OC Shahin confirmed that Shamim had been attacked again after police initially rescued him.
“At 8:30pm, an agitated mob, or ‘Tawhidi Janata’, whatever one might call them, arrived and assaulted him again,” he said.
Family alleges planned killing
Shamim’s family described the killing as deliberate and demanded action against those responsible for mobilising the crowd.
“They incited people against him using a provocative video/audio clip, and then deliberately and systematically beat him to death,” Sagar said.
Sagar said his brother had completed his Honours and Master’s degrees in History at Jagannath University.
According to the family, Shamim developed mental health problems after being drugged by criminals during a bus journey several years ago.
He had experienced periods of mental instability for around a decade and had been receiving medical treatment.
The family said his condition had affected his personal life, including his first marriage.
Shamim leaves behind two sons, one from each marriage.
Sagar questioned why his brother had been subjected to mob violence instead of being dealt with through the legal system.
“If the law had punished him, we would have accepted it. But why should my brother be beaten to death without any trial?” he said.
Jamaat involvement alleged, denied
The victim’s family also alleged that local Jamaat-e-Islami activists were involved in mobilising people during the initial attack.
Sagar claimed that some participants had gathered at a local Jamaat office before proceeding to the family’s home.
He alleged that local party leaders and activists were among those involved.
However, Kamrul Islam Gazi, president of the Ward 8 Jamaat-e-Islami unit in Parulia Union, denied the allegations.
He told BBC Bangla that local residents, rather than Jamaat activists, had assaulted Shamim.
“No... it was the local residents,” he said when asked whether party members were involved.
Gazi said he had heard that Shamim was beaten after being taken for treatment following his consumption of poison.
The family’s allegations against Jamaat members have not been independently established.
As of 3pm on Thursday, no murder case had been filed, according to police.
OC Shahin said police had contacted the victim’s family and were expecting them to visit the police station to lodge a complaint.
Sagar also said the family intended to file a case later in the day.
Police said the investigation was continuing and that legal action would be taken against those identified as responsible.