Police say a dispute over smoking led to an attack on the counter of Sohag Transport and the residence of one of the company’s owners in Malibagh, Dhaka.
According to preliminary investigations, on Wednesday night, a few individuals were smoking in front of the house of Ali Hasan Palash Talukdar, one of the owners of Sohag Transport. A security guard asked them to move away, which led to a verbal altercation.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Assistant Commissioner of Ramna Zone, Majharul Islam, said, “After some argument with the guard, the owner arrived with a vehicle. A verbal dispute ensued with the individuals, leading to some shoving.”
He added that after the individuals left, more than fifty people arrived with sticks and rods, attacking the company owner, his driver, and the security guard. Nearby counters were vandalized, and Sohag Transport employees who tried to intervene were also attacked.
Sohag Transport Managing Director Md. Faruk Talukdar Sohel said a few youths were smoking near the counter, and when an employee asked them to stop, they attacked him. “Our staff told them to move a little further to smoke. A dispute started, and eventually, they attacked our staff and brought in more people via mobile calls,” he said.
Sohel added that the attack extended to his house next to the counter, where his younger brother, Palash Talukdar, was entering with a vehicle. “They vandalized the house and assaulted our staff. We immediately informed the police and are preparing to file a case,” he said.
AC Majharul Islam confirmed that CCTV footage has been collected, and efforts are underway to identify the attackers.
Allegations have surfaced that a local politician may have been involved. When asked, the AC said, “I have no information about any political affiliation of the attackers. No case has been filed yet. Names of any individuals will be disclosed once a case is registered.”
