A young man murdered in public in Kabirhat, Noakhali

Noakhali, Bangladesh: A wave of shock and unrest has gripped the Kabirhat upazila following the public beating and killing of a young man on Saturday night. The incident occurred at approximately 10:00 pm on 17 January, in front of the Kazi residence near Kalirhat Bazar in Ward 2 of Narottampur Union. Following the attack, the deceased was labelled a “robber,” and local youths allegedly distributed sweets in the marketplace in a controversial act of celebration.

The victim, Mizanur Rahman, also known as Roni, aged 35, was a resident of Jainadpur, under Kabirhat municipality, and the son of Md. Shahid. He leaves behind two children. According to police, Mizanur had a criminal record including cases of robbery, theft, weapon possession, and assault on a government employee—amounting to at least six pending cases.

Sources from the police and the locality revealed that a preparatory meeting of the BNP’s Ward 2 team was underway at Kalirhat Bazar around 8:00 pm, in the lead-up to the 13th parliamentary elections. Mizanur reportedly claimed to be a devoted party worker during the meeting, which escalated into a heated argument with party members. He fled the scene following the confrontation.

Approximately two hours later, a group of individuals apprehended Mizanur near the northern side of Kalirhat Bazar, in front of the Kazi residence. He was beaten mercilessly with sticks and iron pipes, resulting in his death. The assailants reportedly left the body on the road and fled the scene. Police retrieved the corpse shortly thereafter.

Investigators recovered a blood-stained stick and an iron pipe from the site, while a toy pistol and a small knife were found in the victim’s pocket.

Harunur Rashid Harun, former president of BNP Ward 2, Narottampur Union, stated: “We were discussing election strategies in the office when Mizanur arrived and began arguing. Later, I heard about his death. I am unaware of any sweet distribution.”

OC Md. Nizam Uddin Bhuiyan of Kabirhat Police Station confirmed that no formal complaint has yet been lodged by the family. Once a complaint is received, a full investigation will follow. The body was sent to Noakhali General Hospital morgue for autopsy on Sunday morning.

Abu Tayeb Md. Arif Hossain, Additional Superintendent of Police (Finance & Administration), speculated that the local populace, angered by Mizanur’s criminal activities after recently being released on bail, may have taken the law into their own hands. Police continue to work on identifying and apprehending the perpetrators.

Summary of the Incident