A 25-year-old man, Abu Sufian Siju, was beaten and hacked after being tied to an electric pole in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj, leaving him in critical condition.
He has been admitted to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) in Dhaka following deterioration in his health. Local residents reported that the attack occurred around 7:00 pm on Wednesday in the Umorpur Ghat area of Shyampur union.
According to eyewitnesses, a group of youth tied Siju, son of Rabiul Islam of Shyampur-Bajitpur village, to an electric pole and hacked him with sharp weapons, injuring both his wrists and the soles of his feet. Locals rescued him and rushed him to the Upazila Health Complex, from where he was referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
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His mother, Sufia Begum, told The Financial Express over the phone that doctors at Rajshahi Medical College had referred him to NITOR after discovering a blocked blood vessel in his left hand, putting his life at risk.
Sufia Begum alleged that local activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami attacked her son, who was also affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, without provocation.
However, Shibganj upazila Jamaat ameer Shadiqul Islam denied the claims, saying Siju had a criminal record and was involved in extortion and robbery.
He further claimed that Siju allegedly tried to forcibly abduct two local youths at a bridge over the Pagla River, but the youths escaped and the locals intervened, beating him.
Shadiqul added that the attack later took place at night and that the blame on Jamaat supporters was unfounded.
Shibganj police station officer-in-charge Humayun Kabir said that after Siju's father filed an attempted murder case, the police had arrested two named accused.
Regarding the family's allegations of political motivation, the OC stated that preliminary investigations did not find any evidence of political involvement.
"Once the investigation is completed, we will provide the full details," he added.
**Anaet Karim**
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Cell: +8801723205086
