Thakurgaon trader commits suicide after public beating, humiliation over Tk1,000

A Thakurgaon businessman on Thursday committed suicide after being reportedly assaulted by a local Jubo League leader over Tk1,000. 

Abdul Gafur, 40, a fish trader of Sangaon Fatiapara village under Thakurgaon’s Baliadangi upazila, took his own life by overdosing on gas medicines.

Locals said he was publicly beaten by Jamir Uddin, the president of local Jubo League unit, at Poukanpur Bazaar earlier in the day. 

Gafur’s widow Rozina Begum said Jamir went to their house to demand some money that was owed to him. 

She continued: “Not finding my husband at home, he also tried to contact him over the phone. He then left the premises furiously.” 

Later, when Jamir found Gafur at the local market, he assaulted Gafur in public, Rozina added.

Unable to endure the humiliation, Gafur ingested multiple gas medicine which led to his death. 

Moments before passing away, Gafur in a video said he owed Tk2,700-2,800 to Jamir, of which Tk1,700-1,800 had already been repaid. 

“For only Tk1,000, he [Jamir] physically and verbally assaulted me in the open. I ingested some gas tablets as I could not bear the humiliation,” Gafur said in the video. 

His neighbour Nasirul Islam said: “We took Gafur to the hospital but the doctors could not save him. He died around 3pm.”

The deceased’s family and neighbours demanded exemplary punishment for the Jubo League leader. 

Dhaka Tribune was unable to contact Jamir despite multiple attempts. 

Baliadangi police station OC Abdus Sabur said Gafur's body was sent for an autopsy. "Tthe cause of death will be known after receiving the report.” 

Regarding Jubo League leader Jamir's involvement, the OC said: “Gafur and Jamir did business together. We will know more through the investigation.”