Relatives of Lal Chand, also known as Sohag, a scrap goods trader who was killed on the road in front of Mitford Hospital (Sir Salimullah Medical College) in Dhaka, have demanded the arrest of all accused listed in the case and the maximum punishment for them.
On Friday morning (July 25), they made this demand during a human chain protest held in front of the National Press Club. Among those who spoke at the event were the complainant and Sohag’s elder sister, Manjuara Begum, his niece Beethi Akter, Sohag’s son Sohan, his wife Laki Akter, and other family members.
Sohan, Sohag’s 10-year-old son, said, “I want a peaceful Bangladesh. If my father gets true justice, then I will proudly say that my father’s murder was properly punished.”
Questioning what kind of independence the country has achieved, Sohan added, “After August 5, many say Bangladesh has become truly independent, especially after Sheikh Hasina came to power. But there is even more chaos now. My father was openly killed, and after that, there were rallies chanting, ‘Businessmen are not afraid, extortionists have no place.’ How do they get so much power? Even after my father’s public killing, they can still march like this. If killings continue like this, no one in Bangladesh will be safe, everyone will die. That is why I say there must be proper justice so the murderers will be afraid.”
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At the protest, Sohag’s wife, Laki Akter, said, “The second accused in the case, Sarwar Hossain Tito, has not yet been arrested. He is a dangerous man. Because not all accused have been caught, we are living in fear. We cannot even go outside with our children, nor send them to school. There is always this fear hanging over us. I demand the strictest punishment for this murder.”
Laki also demanded that four more accused be added to the case, saying, “The family had named 23 people in the initial complaint. But the names of Anwarul Haq Roni, also known as Bhaiya Roni, Kaiyum Molla, Rakesh, and Mozafar Hossain Bablu have been left out from the murder charges. Their names must be included. This murder was planned by them. The plan was made while sitting in Bablu’s office. But the police station removed their names.”
