Youth Lured Under Pretext of Eid Gift and Killed; BNP Expels Leader in Apparent Damage Control

❐ Local correspondent

BNP has taken responsibility for the incident of killing a young man named Sohel Rana (25) by slitting his throat in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj, under the pretext of offering Eid greetings, by expelling the party leader involved.

This information was given in a press release signed by District BNP Office Secretary Tanvir Mahmud Palash on Wednesday afternoon, March 25.

The notice mentioned that Saiful Islam was expelled from all party positions after allegations were raised of violating party discipline and his suspected involvement in the murder of Sohel Rana of Sarataoil village, and after being named as an accused in a case filed by the victim’s mother.

The notification mentioned that the expulsion order was approved by District BNP President Rumana Mahmud and General Secretary Saidur Rahman Bachchu.

Earlier, on the morning of Eid on March 21, police recovered the body of Sohel Rana, who was killed in a paddy field near his house.

The deceased was Sohel Rana, son of Azad Mandal of Sarataoil village in Kayempur union of the upazila. The expelled Saiful Islam was the former general secretary of Kayempur union BNP in the upazila and the son of Adam Bepari of the same village.

Officer-in-charge of Shahjadpur Police Station Saiful Islam said, “Operations are underway at various places to arrest accused Saiful Islam. We hope that it will be possible to arrest him soon.”

It is worth noting that Sohel Rana was called from his home on the Friday evening before Eid under the pretext of giving a salute. He did not return home that night. On the morning of Eid, the police recovered his body from a paddy field in the area.

According to the police, based on the autopsy report, Sohel Rana was killed by slitting his throat and stabbing him in several places, including his head and cheeks.

Shahjadpur police said that Ruby Akhter, the mother of the deceased, has filed a case against BNP leader Saiful Islam and three unidentified people in this incident.