A routine demand for unpaid daily wages escalated into severe violence in Patuakhali’s Bauphal upazila on Monday morning, leaving four members of the same family critically injured following a ferocious attack with sharp domestic weapons.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:00 am in Ward No. 1 of Goalia Bagha village, situated within the Surjamani Union under Bauphal upazila. The victims have been identified as Johirul, aged 35, his brothers Rezaul, 30, and Khairul, 27, alongside their 55-year-old mother, Monowara Begum.
According to the victims’ relatives, Johirul had worked as an agricultural labourer on land owned by a local resident, Russel Mridha, for an agreed daily remuneration of 600 BDT. Tensions flared when Johirul approached Mridha to collect his legitimate earnings upon completing the assigned tasks. Agitated by the request, Mridha reportedly confronted Johirul before assembling a group of associates armed with lethal sharp instruments and heavy batons.
The gang initially set upon Johirul, striking him repeatedly and inflicting deep lacerations across his body. Hearing his cries for help, Monowara Begum and her two younger sons rushed to the scene to rescue him. However, the attackers turned on them without hesitation, beating and hacking all three relatives as they attempted to shield Johirul.
Local villagers intervened to halt the violence, rescuing the bleeding family before transporting them to the nearby Bauphal Upazila Health Complex. Dr Mamunur Rashid, an attending physician at the medical centre, confirmed that all four patients presented with extensive trauma and severe tissue damage. After administering emergency first aid to stabilise their condition, doctors determined that their injuries required specialized surgical care and promptly referred them to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal.
Police officers from the Bauphal Police Station visited the upazila health complex shortly after the victims were admitted to gather initial details. Officer-in-Charge Sirajul Islam stated that law enforcement acted immediately upon receiving information about the assault, adding that formal legal proceedings and arrests will be initiated as soon as a written complaint is submitted by the victims’ representatives.
Repeated attempts to contact Russel Mridha for comment regarding the allegations were unsuccessful, as he could not be reached following the altercation. Consequently, independent verification of his precise role in the incident remains pending as police enquiries continue.
