Lawyer and activist Nadima Mohammadi Khan assaulted in Barishal property dispute

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Nadima Mohammadi Khan, a 39-year-old daughter of prominent human rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Z.I. Khan Panna, was injured in an attack at her ancestral home in Barishal city on Saturday evening. The incident occurred at the residence of former Education Minister Hashem Ali Khan on Sadar Road, prompting a swift police response and the filing of a criminal case.

Following the assault, Khan received medical treatment at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. She subsequently filed a formal complaint with the Barishal Kotwali Model Police Station on Sunday morning, naming her uncle, Nazrul Islam Khan, and four others as defendants. Authorities confirmed that one suspect, 35-year-old Tanjia Chandni, has been taken into custody.

According to the case file, the attack was allegedly fueled by an ongoing dispute over ancestral property and an extortion attempt. Khan reported that she was targeted by a group of individuals after refusing to pay a demand for 1 million taka. She alleged that her uncle orchestrated the violence to intimidate her and coerce her into abandoning her claim to the family property.

Khan, who had arrived from Dhaka earlier that day with a cousin, stated that the confrontation began when she protested against a group of youths who were consuming and selling narcotics inside the family compound. The verbal dispute escalated rapidly when an estimated 25 to 30 people descended upon the house and assaulted her with clubs. She was eventually rescued by local residents who intervened as the situation deteriorated.

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Police officials have signaled a firm stance regarding the investigation. Barishal Metropolitan Police Acting Commissioner Hannan emphasized that the matter is being treated with the utmost urgency. He stated that the Detective Branch (DB) has launched a manhunt to locate the remaining suspects and underscored that those responsible will face the full extent of the law.

Efforts to reach Nazrul Islam Khan for comment regarding the allegations were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mamunul Islam confirmed that investigative efforts remain ongoing to secure the apprehension of the remaining individuals named in the case.