A brutal incident in Old Dhaka’s Midford area, where scrap metal trader Lal Chand Sohag was beaten to death with a concrete slab, has sparked nationwide outrage. A horrifying video of the murder went viral on social media, triggering intense public anger across the country.
In response, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has formed an investigation and information-gathering committee to look into the incident.
At a press conference held on Monday (July 14) at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, the party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated, “We strongly suspect that this murder is being exploited for political gain. It appears that certain quarters are using this tragic event as a deliberate tactic to destabilize the atmosphere ahead of the national elections.”
He further said, “To uncover the real circumstances behind the Mitford murder, we have formed a special investigation committee composed of competent members. This committee will independently gather and verify information and bring the truth to light.”
Fakhrul claimed that a conspiratorial campaign had been launched following the incident, aimed at portraying the BNP and its Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman as villains. “We strongly protest this smear campaign, and we will actively work to expose the hidden forces behind this propaganda,” he asserted.
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The BNP Secretary General noted that the party has strongly condemned and protested the incident, demanding exemplary punishment for those responsible. Even though there is no direct evidence against them, individuals named in police reports have been permanently expelled from the party in accordance with organizational discipline.
Mirza Fakhrul added, “The victim’s family has also expressed concern about inconsistencies in the case report. According to them, three names listed in the case do not match those of the actual perpetrators, and the family has no complaints against these individuals.”
Expressing his frustration, he said, “Those directly involved in this brutal murder are still at large. Law enforcement agencies have not yet been able to identify or apprehend the real criminals, nor have they disclosed their identities.”
The BNP believes that this incident is being used to mislead the nation and tarnish the political environment, posing a serious threat to peaceful elections and a stable democratic process in the country.
