A tense situation is prevailing in Kushtia district’s Daulatpur Upazila after a mob attack at a shrine that left a self-proclaimed ‘Pir’ dead.
Abdur Rahman alias Shamim Reza alias Jahangir, 65, was beaten and hacked to death on Saturday afternoon at a site known as “Shamim Baba’s Darbar Sharif” in Philipnagar Union.
According to locals, an old video from 2023 resurfaced, leading to allegations of blasphemy and triggering the attack.
Three of his followers—Zubayer, Mohon Ali and Jamirun Nesa—were also injured in the incident and received treatment at a local hospital.
Witnesses said more than a hundred people gathered nearby following announcements and marched towards the shrine around 2:30pm chanting slogans before launching the attack.
Armed with rods and sticks, they broke into the compound, dragged the victim from an upstairs room and beat him indiscriminately despite his pleas.
Most of the attackers were aged between 15 and 30, witnesses said adding that the killing appeared to be planned.
After an autopsy on Sunday Hospital Residential Medical Officer Dr. Hossain Imam said multiple injury marks were found across the body, including 15 to 18 deep cut wounds on the face, along with serious injuries to the head, neck and back.
He said the victim died due to excessive bleeding from multiple injuries.
Additional Superintendent of Police Faisal Mahmud, spokesperson for district police, said the body was taken to Philipnagar village and burial preparations were underway following funeral prayers.
Man beaten to death by mob in Kushtia for allegedly hurting religious sentiment
Officer-in-Charge of Daulatpur Police Station Arifur Rahman said no written complaint has yet been filed by the family and no arrests had been made so far although additional police have been deployed in the area.
The victim’s elder brother Fazlur Rahman said the family would decide on legal steps after the burial.
Additional DIG of Khulna Range Sheikh Zainuddin visited the scene and termed the killing unacceptable.
Members of police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), army and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), along with local administration officials and the local lawmaker also visited the site.
On Sunday morning, the shrine was found heavily vandalised, with two buildings damaged and rooms burnt, including the one where the ‘pir’ lived.
Reza Ahmed Bachchu Molla, lawmaker from Kushtia-1 (Daulatpur), said no one has the right to take the law into their own hands, adding that those involved would be brought to justice through a fair investigation.
Kushtia Superintendent of Police Mohammad Jasim Uddin said the situation escalated after the old video resurfaced. Although police attempted to rescue the victim, they were outnumbered by hundreds of agitated people and could not fully control the situation, he said.
District Commissioner Touhid bin Hasan said the law and order situation is now calm, with security forces deployed and patrols ongoing.
Police have also been placed on alert in sensitive locations including the shrine of Lalon Shah in Cheuriya.