Bangladeshi expat shot dead in front of Johannesburg shop

A Bangladeshi expatriate was fatally shot dead by unidentified assailants in front of his business establishment in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The incident took place around 5:00pm (local time) on Tuesday (April 21) in the Bara area on the outskirts of the city.

The victim, Abu Naser Shamim, 50, was a resident of Companiganj upazila in Noakhali, and a father of four.

According to his eldest son, Abu Rafsan Pias, Shamim owned four to five business establishments. He had recently been involved in a dispute with a business partner from Noakhali over the sale of a large shop. The disagreement had intensified in recent days. On the day of the incident, while speaking with his security guard outside the shop, the attackers—who had reportedly been lying in wait—held a pistol to his head and fired 6 to 7 rounds, killing him on the spot.

The victim’s family has called for a proper investigation and the swift return of his body to Bangladesh.

The killing has cast a shadow of grief over the Bangladeshi expatriate community.