Auto-rickshaw driver killed in Rangpur to steal his vehicle

A battery-powered rickshaw driver was allegedly killed by a group of assailants in Rangpur’s Gangachara upazila in an apparent attempt to steal his vehicle.

The deceased was identified as Mokhlesur Rahman, 55, son of the late Hamidur Rahman of Nabonidas Para in the upazila.

Police recovered his body from beneath a banyan tree in the Shantipara-Kauafanda area of Gajghanta union around 11:45pm on Friday.

Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge (OC) of Gangachara Model Police Station, said, "Mokhlesur had left home with his battery-run rickshaw on Friday afternoon. Police suspect he was killed sometime between 8pm and 10pm by a group of criminals who then took away the rickshaw."

Local residents spotted the body lying beneath the tree in the dark and informed police. Officers later went to the scene and recovered the body.

The body has been sent to the Rangpur Medical College morgue for autopsy, the OC said.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the motive and identify those involved. Efforts are also under way to trace and arrest the suspects, while the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the autopsy report.