A man named Jahangir Hossain was allegedly beaten to death in the Salmodi area of Mahmudpur Union in Araihazar upazila on Wednesday, following a dispute over unpaid rent for a BNP office.
Jahangir Hossain, son of the late Taleb Ali Bhuiyan, was the owner of the shop space used as the BNP office and served as the joint general secretary of the Union Fishermen’s Wing of the party.
Locals said that after August 5, the former general secretary of Ward No. 7 BNP, known as Tota Member, rented the shop from Jahangir to use it as a local BNP office.
Around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jahangir went to demand a due rent of Tk 10,000. This led to a heated argument with Tota Member, his son, and several associates.
During the altercation, Jahangir was severely beaten. He was rushed to Araihazar Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. His body was later sent to Narayanganj Victoria General Hospital for autopsy.
Araihazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khandaker Nasir Uddin confirmed the incident. He stated that Tota Member had rented three shops from Jahangir on an annual contract of Tk 30,000, and had set up the Ward No. 7 BNP office in one of them. While rent for two shops had been paid, the rent for the one housing the BNP office remained unpaid.
OC Nasir Uddin added, "When Jahangir went to ask for the rent, an argument ensued, which escalated into physical assault. He later died at the hospital. We are conducting raids to arrest those involved in the incident."
