In Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia, Bangladesh, a man described locally as a so-called pir was beaten and hacked to death following allegations of religious defamation, while his religious establishment was vandalised and set on fire. The incident occurred on Saturday at around 2:30pm in Filippnagar village under Filippnagar Union.
The deceased was identified as Shamin Reza, also known as Jahangir. According to local accounts, he was the son of the late Jesser Ali of Filippnagar village. He had completed his studies in Dhaka and was previously engaged in the teaching profession before returning to his village, where he established a religious ashram-like institution.
At approximately 4:45pm, Kushtia Superintendent of Police Mohammad Zasim Uddin confirmed the incident. He stated that a video of the deceased had circulated on social media containing allegedly offensive remarks about Islam. However, he noted that the footage was recorded earlier and had recently resurfaced online, which contributed to rising tensions in the area.
He further said that police attempted to rescue the individual when unrest began, but were outnumbered by a large crowd. As a result, the situation could not be brought under control in time, and the man was beaten to death. Authorities also reported that the site was subsequently vandalised and set on fire.
The Superintendent of Police added that the situation in the area has since stabilised and that a significant number of law enforcement personnel have been deployed to maintain order. He also stated that an investigation is underway to determine how the video was reintroduced and circulated, and he confirmed that he was travelling to the location.
Local sources said that in May 2021, a case was filed at Daulatpur Police Station against Shamin Reza on allegations including hurting religious sentiments. He was arrested at the time and later imprisoned. After serving a period in custody, he was released and allegedly resumed similar activities, according to local claims.
Residents further alleged that he had made derogatory remarks about the Holy Qur’an in public, which heightened anger among members of the community. Tensions reportedly escalated from the morning of the incident, culminating in the attack on the establishment and subsequent violence.
Incident Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Filippnagar village, Filippnagar Union, Daulatpur, Kushtia |
| Time | Saturday, approximately 2:30pm |
| Deceased | Shamin Reza (alias Jahangir) |
| Father | Late Jesser Ali |
| Background | Former teacher; later established a religious institution |
| Nature of incident | Mob attack resulting in death; arson and vandalism |
| Police statement | Old video resurfaced on social media triggered tensions |
| Security response | Additional police deployed; situation later stabilised |
| Prior legal case | 2021 case for hurting religious sentiments; arrest and imprisonment reported |