UP Member Beaten to Death in Araihazar; Family, Police Give Conflicting Accounts

NASIR KHAN AA,

A Union Parishad (UP) member was beaten to death on Monday morning in Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj. The family of the deceased alleged that he was killed for opposing drug trade, while police claimed the murder occurred over extortion.

The victim, Md. Sohel (38), hailed from Baliapara village and was a member of Ward-3 of Brahmandi Union Parishad. According to police, Sohel had at least 15 criminal cases filed against him, including charges of drug trafficking, robbery and extortion. He was arrested by RAB-11 in Daudkandi, Cumilla, on June 13 and was later released on bail.

Khondoker Nasir Uddin, Officer-in-Charge of Araihazar Police Station, said that on Monday morning Sohel demanded extortion money from Sharif Hossain, owner of an under-construction market in Baliapara. During an altercation with the owner’s family, agitated villagers—already angered over Sohel’s alleged criminal activities—caught and tied him up before beating him to death. Police recovered the body around 9:30am from the Batatola bus stand area and sent it to Narayanganj General Hospital for autopsy. His body bore multiple injury marks and his face was disfigured.

Sohel’s sister-in-law Jannat Akter, however, alleged that he was killed in a premeditated attack for speaking out against drug trade in the area. “He left home at around 7:00am after receiving a phone call, and within an hour and a half we heard he had died,” she said, dismissing the extortion allegation as false. She did not name any specific suspects.

Attempts to contact Sharif Hossain, the market owner, were unsuccessful as his phone remained switched off.

According to local and police sources, Sohel was once involved in Awami League politics and had ties with former MP Nazrul Islam Babu and Brahmandi UP Chairman Md. Lak Mia. He was elected as a UP member and served as an executive member of Ward-3 Awami League. Following conflicts with party leaders, his home was set on fire in October 2023 and the ward committee was dissolved. He had blamed local Jubo League and Chhatra League activists for that attack.

Several Baliapara residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that after the fall of the Awami League government last August, Sohel initially went into hiding but later returned to the area and developed links with local BNP leaders. Recently, he was again accused of drug dealing, displaying firearms and extortion, leading to tension with new drug traders. His house was set on fire again on September 7 this year.

OC Nasir Uddin said no case was filed over the arson incidents but legal action regarding Sohel’s death is underway.