Member hacked to death in Cumilla after loudspeaker announcement of ‘robbers’
Muradnagar police station. Photo: Collected
A Union Parishad member was allegedly hacked to death after attackers entered his home in Muradnagar, Cumilla. A former Union Parishad member has been accused of the killing.
First, an announcement was made over a loudspeaker that robbers had entered the area. The house was then attacked. Union Parishad member Md Anwar Hossain was beaten and hacked, according to his wife. She also alleged that the attackers prevented them from taking her husband to hospital. She was also injured in the attack.
The incident took place at around 4:00 am on Sunday in Uttar Pennai village of Srikail Union in the upazila.
Anwar Hossain was the incumbent Union Parishad member of Ward No. 2 of Srikail Union and president of the ward unit of the Jubo League. He was the son of late Monu Mia of Uttar Pennai village.
The accused former Union Parishad member was identified as Firoz. He is a former member of Uttar Pennai village.
According to several locals, Anwar had significant influence in the area during the previous government. He had been involved in clashes with other villagers over various issues on several occasions. He had been in hiding since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5. Anwar secretly returned to his home late on Saturday night.
Momena Begum, the deceased's wife, alleged that after learning about her husband's return, former Union Parishad member Firoz and his associates attacked their home with locally made weapons at around 3:30 a.m. They allegedly hacked Anwar and seriously injured him. She was also attacked while trying to protect her husband.
Momena Begum claimed that after the attack, an announcement was made over the mosque loudspeaker that robbers had entered the area to divert attention from the incident. Although they tried to take the injured Anwar to hospital, they were prevented from doing so. Later, with the assistance of Bangra Bazar police, he was rescued at around 6:00 a.m. and taken to Muradnagar Upazila Health Complex.
Dr Nazmus Sakir, an emergency department physician at Muradnagar Upazila Health Complex, said Anwar was found dead after being brought to the hospital. He was believed to have died on the way to the hospital.
The deceased's cousin Md Jasim claimed that Anwar had been away from the village for around two and a half years. When he tried to return to the village recently, Firoz Member's associates allegedly demanded Tk 100 million from him as extortion. He was allegedly killed in a planned attack after refusing to pay the money.
Shafiul Alam, officer-in-charge of Bangra police station, said Anwar faced various allegations in the area and there was discontent among locals over him. It was also learned that Anwar had come to the area to cause trouble the night before the incident. However, the actual motive behind the killing will be known after investigation. Legal action will be taken against those involved after investigating the incident.
