Labour Leader Killed in Alleged Family Attack

A local Labour Party leader was hacked to death in Patuakhali in what his family has described as a premeditated attack stemming from a long-running combination of political rivalry and family disputes over property. Police have launched an investigation and are searching for the suspects, who have reportedly gone into hiding following the killing.

The victim, Ripon Kazi, 38, was attacked late on Tuesday night in Morichbunia Union under Patuakhali Sadar Upazila. According to family members, several of his cousins allegedly ambushed him while he was returning home on a motorcycle and fatally assaulted him with sharp weapons.

Ripon was a resident of Kalibari village, located on the border of Morichbunia Union in Patuakhali Sadar and Gulisakhali Union in Amtali Upazila. He served as president of the Gulisakhali Union unit of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, the labour wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Relatives have alleged that the killing was the culmination of a prolonged conflict involving both political influence in the locality and disagreements over inherited family land.

According to the victim’s mother and brother, the attack was carefully planned. They also alleged that Ripon’s father, Mizanur Rahman Kazi, was present with the attackers during the incident.

An eyewitness and cousin of the deceased, Rajib Kazi, said he and Ripon had been travelling home by motorcycle from Gagonkha Bazar at around 11:30pm. As they approached the house of a local resident known as Faruk Master, another cousin, identified as Russell Kazi, allegedly stopped their motorcycle.

Rajib alleged that immediately afterwards, Russell Kazi, Rifat Kazi, 26, Sohag Kazi, 42, Rahat Kazi, 29, and Rifat’s maternal cousin Palash, along with several other armed individuals, launched a violent attack on Ripon using sharp weapons.

He further claimed that Ripon’s father was also among those present during the assault.

Describing the incident, Rajib said he managed to escape by jumping into a nearby canal.

“To save my life, I jumped into the canal and climbed onto the opposite bank, where I shouted for help,” he said. “Family members arrived and rescued Ripon before taking him to Patuakhali Medical College Hospital, where the attending doctor declared him dead.”

Ripon’s younger brother, Rabbi Kazi, alleged that the dispute had both political and personal dimensions.

According to him, one of the accused, Rifat Kazi, serves as president of the local unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. He claimed that tensions between the two cousins had persisted for a long time over political influence in the area.

Rabbi also alleged that disagreements over family property had deepened the conflict.

He claimed that their father, Mizanur Rahman Kazi, had contracted multiple marriages and had been selling family land. Rabbi further alleged that the accused cousins encouraged those marriages because they hoped to purchase the land at below-market prices. He maintained that the combination of political rivalry and family disputes ultimately led to the fatal attack on his brother.

These allegations have been made by the victim’s family and have not yet been independently verified by investigators.

Rabbi said his mother, Amena Begum, 50, was preparing to file a murder case with Patuakhali Sadar Police Station naming those she believes were involved in the killing.

Since the incident, Mizanur Rahman Kazi and the other accused individuals have reportedly remained absconding. As a result, their version of events could not be obtained.

Patuakhali Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Moniruzzaman confirmed that police recovered the body, completed the inquest report and carried out a post-mortem examination in accordance with legal procedures.

He said police have launched an operation to arrest the suspects and that the investigation is continuing.

The killing has shocked residents of the area, where disputes involving family property and local political rivalries have occasionally led to violence. Investigators are expected to examine witness statements, forensic evidence and the background to the dispute as they seek to establish the circumstances surrounding Ripon Kazi’s death and determine the legal responsibility of those involved.