Murder Case Filed in Bangladesh After Man Beaten to Death Over Mugging Accusation

A murder case has been filed in Narayanganj, Bangladesh, following the death of a young man, Md Sizan, who was allegedly beaten to death after being accused of mugging. The victim's mother, Shilpi Begum, lodged the complaint at the Fatullah Model Police Station, naming six individuals and implicating 14 to 15 others.

Among the named accused are prominent local figures, including Mufti Kawsar Ahmed Qasemi, an imam and former vice-president of Khelafat Majlis's Sadar unit; Abdul Gani, assistant general secretary of the district committee; and Jilani Fakir, convener of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Ulama Dal’s Fatullah unit. Despite the case filing, no arrests have been made yet.

The case statement details that Sizan, along with another young man named Anik, was allegedly apprehended from Sizan's home on Saturday afternoon. They were reportedly tied to an electric pole in front of the Al-Falah Samaj Kalyan organisation office and beaten with steel pipes. Sizan's father stated in the case that his son was gagged when he screamed and that the beating continued even as he pleaded with the attackers. Sizan was handed over to his father in an unconscious state around 7:00 PM and later declared dead at Narayanganj General Hospital.

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They tied both of them to an electric pole by the roadside and beat them with steel pipes. When my son screamed in pain, they gagged him and continued beating him.

A video circulating on social media appears to show Sizan and Anik being beaten while tied to a pole. Local sources and police identified the accused as members of the Al-Falah Samaj Kalyan organisation, which reportedly conducts vigilante "anti-drug" and "anti-crime" operations. Locals have alleged that this group has detained and beaten individuals previously under the guise of such activities. Videos of these alleged activities have reportedly been found on Mufti Kawsar Ahmed Qasemi's Facebook account.

However, Qasemi claimed on Sunday that Sizan was a "drug addict and a mugger" and that an agitated crowd had beaten him, denying any involvement of his organization. Attempts to reach Qasemi and Fakir for comment on Monday were unsuccessful as their phones were switched off.

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Sizan was a drug addict and a mugger, and that an agitated crowd had beaten him.