A horrifying act of violence in the Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj has left a 22-year-old man critically injured after he was reportedly tied to an electricity pole and attacked with sharp weapons. Doctors have confirmed that both of his hands and one leg were almost severed in the assault, which has sparked widespread outrage in the local community.
The victim, Abu Sufian, a resident of Bajitpur village and the son of Rabiu Islam, was attacked on Wednesday afternoon in the Umarpur Ghat area. According to family members and police sources, Sufian was first rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in a critical condition. Due to the severity of his injuries, doctors later referred him to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), commonly known as Pangu Hospital, in Dhaka, where he remains under intensive medical care.
Family members allege that the attack was carried out by local activists affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir, following a dispute related to the harassment of a teenage relative. Sufian’s mother, Sufia Begum, claimed that her son was targeted after he protested against the repeated harassment of the girl by a local youth.
According to her account, the teenager had previously been abducted by the same youth, prompting the family to file a police case. Although the girl was rescued and the accused arrested, he was later released on bail and allegedly resumed harassing her. On Wednesday afternoon, Sufian reportedly summoned the youth to Umarpur Ghat to warn him to stop disturbing the girl.
At that point, local men, including Abdul Razzak and Shah Alam, allegedly intervened and sided with the accused youth. Witnesses say Sufian was beaten mercilessly, tied to an electricity pole in front of Razzak’s medicine shop, and attacked repeatedly with sharp weapons despite his pleas for mercy.
Recalling the incident, Sufia Begum said through tears, “My son folded his hands and begged them, saying he was innocent and asking them to prove his guilt first. But they did not listen. They kept hacking him.”
Key Facts at a Glance :
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Victim | Abu Sufian (22) |
| Location | Umarpur Ghat, Shibganj, Chapainawabganj |
| Nature of Attack | Tied to pole and assaulted with sharp weapons |
| Injuries | Both hands and one leg nearly severed |
| Current Treatment | NITOR (Pangu Hospital), Dhaka |
| Arrests Made | Shah Alam (22), Abdul Razzak (23) |
| Legal Action | Case filed naming 3 accused, 12–15 unnamed |
On Thursday night, Sufian’s father filed a case at Shibganj Police Station, naming three individuals and accusing an additional 12 to 15 unidentified persons. Following a police operation, Shah Alam and his brother Abdul Razzak—both residents of Shyampur Khochpara village—were arrested and sent to jail. Abdul Razzak is reportedly a madrasa teacher and owns the medicine shop outside which the assault took place.
The family also revealed that surgery had to be delayed due to a shortage of blood donors, worsening Sufian’s already critical condition.
Police officials have stated that investigations are ongoing and that further arrests may follow. The brutal nature of the attack has reignited serious concerns about vigilantism, political violence, and public safety in rural Bangladesh, with locals demanding swift justice and exemplary punishment for those responsible.