Attack on Sohag Paribahan office: Parvez put on remand, Zainal sent to jail

A violent attack on the Sohag Paribahan office and the owner’s residence in Malibagh, Dhaka, has left seven people injured and led to arrests and remand orders from the court.

Md. Parvez, a youth accused in the case, was sent to one-day remand by the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Another accused, Zainal Abedin, was sent to jail in connection with the incident. The court order was issued by Magistrate Partho Bhadra.

Investigation officer Mostafizur Rahman requested a five-day remand for Parvez and jail custody for Zainal during the hearing. The court subsequently granted a one-day remand for Parvez and ordered Zainal’s imprisonment.

Sub-Inspector Jinnat Ali of the court’s police prosecution department confirmed the details.

Following the attack, Billal Hossain, convener of Ward No. 19 of Ramna Thana from the volunteer party, has been expelled from the party amid allegations of involvement.

Two suspects were arrested by police on Thursday for their alleged roles in the attack.

A video of the assault, circulated on social media, shows two men standing in front of Sohag Paribahan’s office around 11:07 p.m on Wednesday. A group of attackers armed with machetes, knives, and rods then launched a coordinated assault. Some accomplices were seen applauding and cheering during the attack. The assailants vandalized the office, entered the ticket counter, assaulted an employee, and stole bundles of cash from the drawer.

In response, Sohag Group’s security officer Dewan Md. Al Amin filed a case at Ramna Police Station on September 4. The complaint named 18 individuals, including former volunteer party leader Billal Hossain, and listed 18-20 others as unidentified accused.

According to the case details, the attack was triggered after two men named Akash and Ruman were smoking near the Sohag Paribahan counter and were asked by employees to stop. This led to a confrontation, after which, under Billal’s leadership, the assailants broke the glass of the security guard’s room at the owner’s residence garage and launched the violent attack.

Seven people, including the company director Ali Hasan Talukdar’s brother, driver Masud, and several employees, were seriously injured. The attackers caused damages estimated at five lakh taka and looted Tk 17,570 from ticket sales at two counters.