UP member beaten to death in N'ganj

Locals have allegedly beaten a union parishad (UP) member to death after tying up his hands and feet in Narayanganj's Araihazar, reports bdnews24.com.

The incident occurred in Brahmandi union's Baliapara area on Monday morning, according to Khondoker Nasir Uddin, chief of Araihazar Police Station.

The deceased is Md Sohel (38), a local resident and the representative of Ward No. 3 of Brahmandi Union Parishad.

Nasir said police recovered Sohel's bound body from the Bottola Bus Stand area after the incident was reported around 9:30 am. There were many injury marks on his body and his face was heavily bruised.

An initial investigation found that a new market is under construction in the area, according to Nasir. Sohel allegedly demanded a bribe from the market's owner and local resident Sharif Hossain on Monday morning.

Members of Sharif's family argued with Sohel. Locals then joined together to detain Sohel.

"Md Sohel, aka Sohel Member, was involved in criminal activities. Locals were very angry at him. Because of this, they joined together, tied him up, and beat him to death," Nasir said.

But Sohel's family claims the allegations of extortion are false. They claim Sohel was killed in a pre-meditated manner because he had opposed the local drug trade.

Sohel's sister-in-law Jannat Akhter said Sohel left home when he received a call on his phone at 7:00 am. The family received word of his death about an hour and a half later.

"The extortion allegations against him are completely false. Sohel Bhai had begun to speak out against some local drug traffickers. That is why he was killed in a pre-planned way," she said.