Opposition Worker Brutally Murdered in Sabujbagh over Prior Grudge

Police have launched an extensive investigation following the brutal murder of Ibrahim Palash, a local activist associated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), in Dhaka’s Sabujbagh area. The 25-year-old victim was ambushed and hacked to death in broad daylight near Rajarbagh Market, leaving the local community in a state of shock and anxiety.

The fatal attack took place on Tuesday evening (21 July) directly in front of a grocery shop adjacent to the local water pump in Rajarbagh Market. According to the police inquest report, Palash sustained multiple severe lacerations across his head, neck, chest, and waist. In an act of extreme violence, the assailants severed both of his hands at the wrists before fleeing the scene. Although his body was subsequently transported to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue for post-mortem examination, law enforcement personnel have yet to recover the severed hands.

Sequence of Events and Tragic Loss

On the day of the incident, Palash left his home at approximately 5:30 pm carrying food for his niece, a student at Jamiatul Saleha Girls’ Madrasa. After delivering the meal, he informed his family that he needed to visit the Kalibari area for personal work. Hours later, his family received news that he had been critically injured in a knife attack. Relatives rushed him initially to Mugda Medical College Hospital, from where he was transferred to DMCH due to the severity of his injuries. Attending doctors at DMCH declared him dead upon arrival, citing excessive blood loss and severe traumatic injuries.

The tragedy has left his family devastated. Palash had married his wife, Morium, just five months earlier, shortly after she completed her Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations. Family members recalled that he had recently purchased a motorcycle to settle into married life. He was the third of four siblings.

Underlying Disputes and the Catalyst for Violence

Investigative findings and accounts from local residents indicate that the attack stemmed from a series of escalating local disputes involving extortion, theft, and gang rivalry. Tensions began building on 15 July when members of a local gang attacked the manager of a rickshaw garage to demand extortion money.

A few days prior to the murder, a teenage gang leader known locally as ‘Kidney Pacha Sobuj’ stole a rickshaw from the Basabo Colony area. When the owner sought assistance to locate the stolen vehicle and identify the thief, the matter was brought to Palash for mediation. Additionally, Sobuj had reportedly entered a local garage near the Hijra Building in Bagpara, where he assaulted a mechanic while demanding extortion money. When Palash questioned Sobuj regarding these activities, another gang leader named Royal intervened on Sobuj’s behalf. Palash had visited Royal’s residence several days earlier to resolve the dispute, during which he was physically assaulted.

The immediate trigger occurred on Tuesday evening when local residents detained an individual named Dukhu, known locally for mobile phone thefts. Palash intervened to mediate the situation and resolve the matter peacefully. Upon hearing of his involvement, Royal, accompanied by associates identified as Gurudas, Sobuj, and Shafique, launched a sudden and coordinated assault armed with sharp native weapons. CCTV footage captured at 8:10 pm shows Royal chasing and repeatedly striking Palash with a samurai sword after associates scouted the area and signalled that the target was isolated.

Official Response and Ongoing Investigation

Sabujbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Saiful Islam confirmed the details of the homicide, explaining that financial disputes and a subsequent physical altercation had fuelled personal animosity between Palash and Royal. During a previous confrontation, Royal’s mother was reportedly pushed during a scuffle, further infuriating the gang leader.

Police confirmed that review of CCTV footage identified at least four individuals directly involved in the physical assault. Intelligence sources further revealed that the suspects allegedly received protection from a local figure known as Elias Babu (alias Video Babu), at whose residence the plan to target Palash was reportedly formulated.

Law enforcement agencies have deployed multiple operational teams to arrest the fleeing suspects and recover the missing severed hands as the formal murder investigation proceeds.