Family of murdered Mymensingh youth demands justice as investigation stalls three months after birthday killing
Photo Collected
GAFARGAON, Mymensingh — Three months after the brutal killing of 23-year-old Ashraful Alam, local police have yet to uncover the motive or apprehend the primary suspects behind the murder. The victim, a resident of Shilashi village, was attacked by unidentified assailants while returning home from his own birthday celebration.
The incident occurred on June 8, shortly after midnight. According to police reports, Ashraful Alam, son of laborer Mofazzal Hossain and Shanta Akter, had celebrated his 23rd birthday at the Gafargaon Dak Bungalow premises. As he was being driven home on a motorcycle by a friend, Shakibul Hasan, a group of assailants intercepted them in the Shilashi Mazar Road area. The attackers reportedly threw chili powder into their eyes to incapacitate them. While the driver managed to flee, the suspects severely beat and hacked Ashraful, even severing his left wrist. He was declared dead at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital at approximately 3:15 a.m. that morning.
Mofazzal Hossain filed a murder case against unknown individuals on June 10. Police subsequently arrested one suspect, Rajib, a resident of College Road, and recovered a weapon. However, despite a two-day remand, investigators stated that the suspect provided no actionable information.
The victim’s family remains disillusioned by the lack of progress in the investigation. “I only had one son,” said a grieving Shanta Akter. “He had no enemies. It has been three months, and the police keep telling us they are investigating, but they have not arrested the main culprits.”
The victim’s father believes the killing may be linked to a previous altercation involving the arrested suspect, Rajib, during a local football match in 2021. He suspects the murder was an act of retaliation, though official confirmation remains elusive.
Monotosh Biswas, Additional Superintendent of Police for the Gafargaon Circle, stated that efforts to identify and capture the remaining suspects are ongoing. “We arrested Rajib with a weapon shortly after the incident, but he did not divulge information during interrogation. We acknowledge there was a prior dispute between the victim and the suspects. We are working to identify the others involved and hope that further arrests will clarify the circumstances of the crime,” Biswas said.
In the wake of the incident, local residents and students have organized various protests demanding justice. Meanwhile, the key witness, Shakibul Hasan, has reportedly left his home following a personal dispute, leaving his whereabouts unknown to his family.
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