Jamaat Leaders and Activists Led Killing over Alleged Religious Insult; Mob Attacks on Home and Hospital in Two Separate Incidents

Staff Correspondent

The family of Wahiduzzaman Shamim has alleged the involvement of local Jamaat leaders and activists in the killing of him in a mob lynching in Debhata, Satkhira, on charges of insulting religion.

Relatives claim that local leaders and activists of the party were behind the attack on the house on Monday and the attack again while he was undergoing treatment on Tuesday. However, the local Jamaat leader has denied the allegations.

Wahiduzzaman Shamim died after being attacked repeatedly in Debhata, Satkhira, over alleged blasphemy allegations. He was declared dead by the doctor on duty after being taken to Satkhira Medical College Hospital on Tuesday night.

The family alleges that people were systematically incited against Shamim based on an audio clip that went viral on social media. His home and medical facility were then attacked.

Shamim’s younger brother, Tawsif Rahman Sagar, said that their house was first attacked on Monday. At that time, a group of local Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists gathered and participated in the attack. The people organized themselves at the Jamaat office in the market and came from there to attack the house.

According to Sagar, some of Shamim’s words during a family dispute were recorded and circulated. Later, people were angered against him based on that audio clip. At one stage, a group of people attacked and vandalized their house.

However, local Jamaat leader and president of Ward No. 8 of Parulia Union in Debhata Upazila, Kamrul Islam Gazi, denied the allegations of involvement of the party’s leaders and activists in the attack on the house.

He claims that there was a family dispute at Shamim’s house over his wife, and allegations of insults in the name of Allah and the Prophet spread throughout the area.

Shamim consumed poison the night after the attack on his house last Monday. He was later taken to a local doctor’s chamber. The doctor said his condition was out of danger but advised him to keep him under observation.

But on Tuesday afternoon, a group of people attacked the doctor’s chamber as well, allegedly by Jamaat activists. On receiving information, the police went there, rescued Shamim and admitted him to the health complex. After that, he was attacked there too, according to the police and his family.

When his condition deteriorated, Shamim was taken to Satkhira Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Debhata Police Station Officer-in-Charge HM Shaheen said that an audio clip of Shamim was circulated on social media alleging blasphemy. After receiving reports of the initial beating, the police rescued him and admitted him to the hospital, but an agitated mob attacked him again at around 8:30 pm.

Shamim’s younger brother, Tawsif Rahman Sagar, said that Shamim had completed his graduation and post-graduation from the history department of Jagannath University. A few years ago, his behavior changed after he was attacked by an unconscious party while traveling in a bus. Sagar also said that he sometimes behaved mentally inconsistently.

According to the family, if there were any allegations against Shamim, he could have been tried through legal proceedings. But he was killed in this way by a mob beating.

Sagar said they believe his brother was beaten to death in a planned manner by spreading provocative statements or audio to anger people.

On Tuesday, a man named Md. Fazlul Haque Amini, who calls himself a mufti, posted a series of videos on his Facebook page urging people to gather. The man, who locally identifies himself as a mufti, has been accused of spreading tension and inciting a mob.

The report says that he called out to people in various videos and at one point was seen leading a group of people in a procession. He is also accused of celebrating by posting pictures of the deceased Shamim.

Debhata Police Station OC HM Shaheen said that the issues have come to the attention of the police and they are taking necessary action.

No case had been filed in the incident as of 3 pm on Thursday. However, Shamim’s younger brother Sagar said that preparations were being made by the family to file a case by that day.

In the case of Shamim’s death, there have been demands for an investigation into the truth of these allegations, including who directly participated in the attack, who incited it, and whether there was any plan behind the attack. Human rights activists say there is no legal justification for lynching someone, even if there are allegations of blasphemy.