A 48-year-old man was shot and hacked to death by unidentified assailants while fishing near his home in Hathazari, Chittagong, on Friday morning, police said.
The deceased was identified as Muhammad Nurul Azam, son of the late Islam of Khalifa Para in Mekhal Union. He earned his livelihood by sewing clothes at home and lived about 500 meters from the scene. According to locals, he also worked as a police informant.
Tarek Aziz, additional superintendent of police (Hathazari Circle), said police have launched a drive to arrest those involved.
"Hathazari police recovered the body on Friday afternoon. It has been sent to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Drives are underway to arrest those involved in the killing," he told Dhaka Tribune.
Nurul Azam is survived by two daughters and a son.
Witnesses said Nurul Azam was catching fish with a net in a wetland near his house in Mekhal village under Ward No. 8 of Mekhal Union at around 9:30am when several assailants allegedly shot him in the leg before hacking him to death with sharp weapons.
Police recovered the body from the scene around 12:30pm and sent it to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.
Muhammad Sayed Mia, member of Ward No. 8 of Mekhal Union Parishad, said the killing was believed to have stemmed from a previous dispute.
"It has been learned that the murder was carried out under the leadership of a man named Didarul Alam from the same area. Police are looking for him," he said.
