Rebel BNP candidates return to their bases after completing a “covert mission”

❐ Special Correspondent

The brutal public murder of scrap dealer Lal Chand alias Md. Sohag (39) in front of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital in Old Dhaka on July 9 last year sparked widespread discussion and outrage across the country. Video footage shows a group of people throwing Sohag on the road, hitting his head and body with heavy stones and concrete boulders, and even dancing on his body.

The incident went viral on social media and dealt a major blow to the BNP’s political image.

According to eyewitnesses and investigation sources, it is claimed that there was an extortion dispute behind the murder. It is said that this incident took place after Sohag refused to pay the extortion regularly. Initially, the case named several members of BNP’s affiliate organizations – Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal. Police and RAB arrested several accused and took them on remand.

At one point, the name of Mohammad Ishaq Sarkar (former Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal leader) was discussed as the mastermind.

It was alleged that he was involved in an extortion network in the Mitford area. However, it was alleged that his name was omitted from the case report at the time due to the mediation of the top leadership of the BNP.

Ishaq Sarkar’s joining ceremony in NCP, April 24, 2026

To save its image, the BNP condemned the incident, expelled those involved, and formed an investigation committee. The party also called it politically motivated.

The incident became a tool for propaganda and campaigning on social media by various anti-BNP parties, including the National Citizens Party (NCP). The NCP and like-minded groups ran a massive campaign portraying BNP as a “shelter of extortion and terrorism.” This severely damaged BNP’s political image, especially in the run-up to the 2026 elections.

Later, Ishaq Sarkar contested the election as a rebel candidate against the BNP nominee in Dhaka-7 constituency. BNP permanently expelled him in February 2026 on charges of violating party discipline.

On April 22, he decided to join the National Citizens Party (NCP). The NCP has said that this is almost final.

The question of sabotage has been raised.

After the news of Ishaq Sarkar joining the NCP came to light, new questions have arisen in the political arena:

► Was the Mitford murder a planned sabotage to tarnish the image of the BNP?
► Was Ishaq Sarkar secretly working for the NCP or anti-BNP forces since then?
► Was the extortion incident planned only for personal gain, or for political purposes?

There has been no official response from the BNP yet, but the party has previously called such incidents a “political conspiracy.”

On the other hand, the NCP and critics are presenting this incident as evidence of internal anarchy within the BNP.

Several accused have been arrested in the murder case. A writ has also been filed demanding the formation of a high-powered judicial investigation commission. However, questions remain about the depth of the investigation following the exclusion of Ishaq Sarkar’s name from the case and his subsequent change of political party.

This incident has brought to the fore allegations of party discipline, extortion and political sabotage in Bangladeshi politics in the post-July period. The public now expects justice for Sohag’s murder and the political links behind such incidents to be uncovered.