It was Wednesday evening, shortly after sunset, when a horrific incident took place near Gate No 3 of Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital premises in Old Dhaka.
In front of more than a hundred people, scrap trader Lal Chand, also known as Sohag, 39, was hacked, beaten, and stoned to death with locally made weapons. Even after the murder, his body was subjected to further abuse.
The entire murder was captured on CCTV footage. In the video, several individuals are seen first mercilessly beating Sohag and then hacking him to the ground. Two young men then dragged his lifeless body into the middle of the road and repeatedly kicked, punched, and stomped on his chest. Large stones were later hurled at his head and body, reports Bangla Tribune.
Despite hundreds of onlookers, no one intervened. Even the on-duty Ansar personnel at the hospital remained silent. Witnesses, gripped by fear, watched the gruesome scene but did not step in.
The victim’s family claims Sohag was lured out of his shop in a pre-planned attack. A rival group, they allege, was trying to dominate his business and had been demanding regular extortion payments. When Sohag refused, he was murdered.
Family sources said Sohag dealt in old electrical wires and scrap materials in Old Dhaka. He led a local syndicate in the scrap trade.
Mahmudul Hasan Mohin and Sarwar Hossain Titu reportedly wanted to become part of this syndicate, and the murder is believed to have stemmed from that conflict.
On Thursday (July 10), the victim’s elder sister filed a case with Kotwali police station, naming 20 individuals.
Among the accused are Mahmudul Hasan Mohin, Sarwar Hossain Titu, Monir, Nannu, Riad, Titon Gazi, and Laki.
So far, four people have been arrested by RAB and the police, and a foreign pistol was recovered from one of the arrestees.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations), SN Nazrul Islam, said: “We were horrified after watching the video. Such savagery is extremely dangerous for society. Four suspects have been arrested, and operations are ongoing to apprehend the rest.”
According to the family, on the morning of the incident, accused Titu had visited Sohag’s home, shared a meal, and lured him out under the pretense of a peaceful discussion. The brutal killing followed soon after.
Meanwhile, after the video of the murder spread across social media, it sparked widespread outrage and condemnation across the country.
Civil society warned that unless such gruesome killings in public are brought to justice, social security will be further weakened.
