In Abhaynagar Upazila of Jashore, miscreants hacked and shot to death Tarikul Islam, the president of the Nawapara Municipal Krishok Dal, over a dispute concerning the occupation of a fish enclosure. Following this incident, local BNP leaders and activists set fire to and looted at least 20 innocent Hindu households in the village. Additionally, several business establishments were set ablaze, vandalized, and looted. A Hindu teenager named Sagar Biswas was also abducted.
The murder of Krishok Dal leader Tarikul Islam (50) took place yesterday evening at a house in Dohar Mashiahati village. He was hacked and then shot dead after being called out of his home due to a dispute over the lease of the enclosure, according to family allegations. Tarikul Islam was the son of Ibrahim Sardar from Dhupadi village in the upazila and served as the president of the Nawapara Municipal Krishok Dal.
After the incident, a group of people looted, vandalized, and set fire to at least 20 Hindu homes in Dohar Mashiahati village at night. Additionally, two shops in Sundali Bazar of the upazila were set on fire, and four others were vandalized. At least 10 people were injured in the attacks.
Local sources stated that most of the land in the local Bil Kachurabad belongs to the residents of Dohar Mashiahati village. After the lease of a fish enclosure expired, the owner vacated the land. Tarikul Islam wanted to lease the land for fish farming, but another individual also sought the lease, leading to a conflict between the two. On Thursday evening, associates of the other individual called Tarikul Islam to the house of Piltu Biswas in Dohar Mashiahati village, where he was first hacked and then shot dead.
Police sources reported that upon receiving the news around 6:45 PM, police rescued Tarikul Islam from Piltu Biswas’s house in Dohar Mashiahati village. His body bore three bullet wounds and multiple sharp weapon injuries. He was then taken to Abhaynagar Upazila Health Complex.
Dr. Mohiuddin from the emergency department of the upazila health complex said Tarikul Islam’s entire body was drenched in blood when he was brought in. He had already died long before reaching the facility. His neck, shoulders, and head bore multiple sharp weapon injuries, and his wrists were nearly severed. Bullet wounds were suspected but difficult to confirm due to the excessive blood.
On Friday morning, a visit to Dohar Mashiahati village revealed charred remains of houses. Tin roofs were twisted and burnt, while inside, furniture, clothes, bedding, televisions, and refrigerators were reduced to ashes. Burnt motorcycles and an engine-powered van lay in front of the houses. Several trees nearby were also scorched.
No male family members were present in the houses at the time, as they had fled after the incident. A few women were found, their faces filled with terror.
The women recounted that a religious event was being held at the house of Sujit Biswas in the village on Thursday night, attended by around 600 invited guests. Religious songs were played on loudspeakers from the afternoon. Some people had arrived early for the event. Around 6:45 PM, they learned that a murder had taken place in a nearby house.
The women said the event continued as some guests had already arrived. Around 8:00 PM, a group of 150 people attacked the houses. The attackers looted belongings, took away two motorcycles, and then set fire to the furniture. Three harmoniums and three drums used in the religious event were vandalized, and all the food was destroyed. At least 10 men and women were beaten and injured. Before leaving, the attackers abducted Sagar Biswas (25), son of Sujit Biswas. They then set fire to two shops and vandalized four others in Sundali Bazar, after looting them. Firefighters, under police and army supervision, extinguished the flames around 10:00 PM.
Housewife Panna Biswas said, “We had a TV, fridge, gold, passports, prescriptions, and 150,000 BDT in cash. Now, nothing is left. Only the six of us in the family are alive.” Another housewife, Smriti Biswas, said, “First, they looted our gold and money. They beat me mercilessly and kicked me to the ground.”
Meanwhile, Iqbal Kabir Zahid, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Communist League of Bangladesh and chief advisor of the Bhobodaha Water Drainage Struggle Committee, visited the affected homes in Dohar Mashiahati village. He was accompanied by Jilur Rahman, member of the district editorial committee of the Revolutionary Communist League of Bangladesh, and freedom fighter Gazi Abdul Hamid, joint convener of the Bhobodaha Water Drainage Struggle Committee.
Demanding justice for Tarikul’s murder, Iqbal Kabir Zahid said, “We demand justice for Tarikul’s killing. We demand the arrest and trial of the culprits. However, taking advantage of Tarikul’s murder, a certain group carried out looting, vandalism, and arson in 19-20 houses in Dohar Mashiahati (Bareda) village purely for plunder. We strongly condemn this incident and demand justice. We also demand compensation for the victims.”
Abhaynagar Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Alim said Tarikul Islam was shot and hacked to death due to a dispute over the fish enclosure. No case has been filed yet in this regard.
The OC said the situation in Dohar Mashiahati is under control, with police deployed in the area. After the incident, Sagar Biswas had gone into hiding but was rescued from Dohar Mashiahati village on Friday afternoon and is now in police custody.
