Islami Jubo Andolan leader hacked to death in Narayanganj; prime accused arrested

A rickshaw garage owner and Islami Jubo Andolan leader was hacked to death in Narayanganj’s Bandar last night (20 August), prompting protesters to block the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway and demand justice.

The deceased was identified as Jahid Hasan Bulbul, 45, joint general secretary of the Narayanganj Metropolitan unit of Islami Jubo Andolan.

Bulbul was attacked with sharp weapons at around 10pm last night in the Salehnagar area of Bandar. Locals rescued him and took him to Narayanganj Victoria General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

According to his family, a local group led by Sifat had looted Bulbul’s rickshaw garage after 5 August 2024. Bulbul subsequently filed a case with Bandar Police Station, naming Sifat as the prime accused.

The family alleged that Bulbul had been repeatedly threatened to withdraw the case. Last night, Sifat and his associates allegedly confronted Bulbul in Salehnagar and pressured him to withdraw the case.

An argument followed, after which the attackers allegedly hacked him with sharp weapons and fled.

Following the killing, Islami Andolan activists took to the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in the Madanpur area around 10am today, setting tyres on fire and blocking traffic.

They demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of everyone involved in the killing.

The protesters withdrew from the highway around 10:45am after police requested them to leave, though the blockade had caused significant traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, police said they have arrested Sifat, the prime accused, in connection with the murder.

Bandar Police Station OC Jamal Hossain said Sifat was arrested and operations were underway to identify others involved.