College student hack to death in Gafargaon

A 24-year-old college student named Shakibul Hasan Masum was hacked to death by unidentified miscreants in Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh while returning home after celebrating his birthday with friends on Monday night(June 9). The brutal attack took place in the Mazar Road area of the municipality. Masum was a second-year student at a local government college and the only son of Mofazzal Hossain, a local mason.

According to local sources, Masum had cut a birthday cake with his friends at the Dakbungalow premises on Monday night. After the celebration, he was heading back home on a motorcycle ridden by his friend Nahiyan Robin around 12:30am. When they reached the Mazar Road intersection, roughly 500 yards away from Masum's house, a group of six to seven masked individuals who were lying in wait intercepted their vehicle.

The attackers initially threw chili powder at the eyes and faces of both Masum and Robin, leaving them completely disoriented. Taking advantage of their helplessness, the assailants indiscriminately hacked Masum with sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured. While Robin managed to flee the scene and save his life, Masum was left bleeding on the road. Local residents and relatives rescued him and rushed him to the Gafargaon Upazila Health Complex. As his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during the early hours of Tuesday.

Recounting the horrific incident, Masum's friend Nahiyan Robin stated that they were returning home after the birthday party when the armed group suddenly blocked their path and blinded them with chili powder. He added that the attackers launched the assault before they could even comprehend what was happening, and though he managed to escape, they brutally hacked Masum.

Grieving the loss of his only son, Mofazzal Hossain said that all his dreams revolved around his son. He expressed his immense grief over how the criminals had emptied his life and demanded immediate justice for the murder.

Assuring action on the matter, Gafargaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) ASM Atiqur Rahman confirmed that an investigation into the incident has already begun. He stated that law enforcement officers are working to identify and apprehend those involved in the killing, though no formal complaint had been filed with the police department at the time of reporting.