Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka
Dhaka, Jul 12: The horrific public murder of 43-year-old scrap trader Lal Chand Sohag in broad daylight has sparked widespread outrage across Bangladesh and beyond, fuelling growing concern over deteriorating law and order under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus.
Sohag, who ran a scrap metal business called Sohana Metal, was brutally assaulted and killed on July 9 outside Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital in Dhaka. Allegedly targeted by business rivals Mahmudul Hasan Mohin and Sarwar Hossain Titu, the attack was linked to months of extortion demands, according to family sources.
Witnesses said Sohag had been pressured to either surrender half his business or make regular payments. When he resisted, Mohin — a known figure in local politics and a candidate for General Secretary of the Chawkbazar unit of the Jubo Dal (youth wing of the opposition BNP) — and his associates ambushed him. Stripped, beaten with stones and left severely injured, Sohag died on the spot as onlookers stood by in fear.
A chilling video of the attack quickly went viral, amplifying public anger. Locals said Mohin had a reputation for intimidating traders, collecting illegal levies, and leveraging his political connections for influence — including alleged involvement in job rackets at the nearby hospital.
According to Sohag’s family, he was deceived into leaving his shop for a supposed peace meeting, only to be surrounded by a mob of 40 to 50 people. Both he and some of the attackers were reportedly linked to the Jubo Dal, deepening political undercurrents in the case.
A First Information Report (FIR) was filed by Sohag’s sister, naming 19 accused and implicating another 15 to 20 unidentified individuals. Dhaka’s Kotwali Police Station is leading the investigation.
Law Advisor Asif Nazrul announced on Saturday that the case will be moved to a Speedy Trial Tribunal, promising swift justice for the heinous crime.
The murder has become a flashpoint in a growing list of violent incidents under the Yunus-led administration, which took charge in August 2024. Rights groups and critics allege an alarming rise in political violence, suppression of journalists, communal attacks, and impunity for mob lynchings.
In particular, attacks on minorities and members of the Awami League, Bangladesh’s former ruling party, have gone unpunished, drawing accusations of state inaction or complicity.
As Sohag’s family mourns and demands justice, many are calling for international attention and accountability amid what they describe as a climate of fear and lawlessness gripping Bangladesh.