Gruesome public murder of Bangladeshi scrap dealer sends shockwaves; students protest in Dhaka

University students gathered in Dhaka to stage demonstrations demanding a fair trial for the brutal murder of Lal Chand, a Bangladeshi scrap dealer, on Saturday. The murder, which happened outside the gates of a medical college hospital, sent shock waves across the country, and authorities have promised to take swift action

 

Lal Chand Mia, who also went by Sohag, 39, was attacked by a group of assailants outside Gate-3 of Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital (Mitford Hospital) on the afternoon of July 9. The group had dragged the businessman and attacked him on the pavement in front of hundreds of bystanders, in a busy lane. The brutal scene of the murder was revealed two days later when the CCTV footage emerged on social media. 

 

The footage shows that the man was being beaten with sticks and stones. He was also stripped, trampled on, and struck in the face with concrete pieces, according to Dhaka Tribune. One of the killers had later bashed the man’s head in repeatedly using a large stone, to make sure he was dead. 

 

The investigations have revealed that Sohag ran a scrap business on the lanes near the hospital for a long time. The assailants who murdered him were a group also involved in the scrap business and purchased and sold old electric cables. Sohag was killed due to disputes over the control of the scrap business and financial transactions related to it. According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, there was no evidence of extortion found in Sohag’s murder.  

After the killing, The Kotwali police arrived on the scene later and made an inquest report. The victim's older sister filed a murder case at the police station.

Two initial arrests, Mahmudul, Hasan Mohin and Tarek Rahman Robin, were made immediately on July 9. Three more people were found and arrested later on with their weapons.

According to Bangladesh’s retired Home Advisor, Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, five individuals have been arrested. The country’s interim government's law advisor, Asif Nazrul, announced on Facebook that the government is fully committed to ensuring swift justice.

Bangladeshi media had reported that the accused and the victim were affiliated with several prominent political parties. Demonstrations were staged in Dhaka demanding a fair trial for Sohag’s case. Several university students gathered to protest extortion and violence committed under political identities. 

Juba Dal, Chhatra Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal expelled 4 of the accused from their party organisations.

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