Vegetable vendor beaten to death in Patuakhali

A vegetable vendor has died following an alleged mob beating led by a local Jubo Dal leader in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali.

The deceased, Md Idris, 45, was reportedly beaten on February 26 at the office of the Nilganj Union unit of Jubo Dal in Pakhimara Bazar. His body was taken to Kalapara Police Station around 10:00am on March 3 by relatives.

Family members alleged that Jubo Dal leader Zahirul Islam — general secretary of the Nilganj Union unit and panel chairman of the local union parishad — and his associates assaulted Idris over Facebook posts and comments made during the 13th parliamentary election, in which he reportedly raised theft allegations against the leader.

According to relatives, Idris, a resident of South Daulatpur village and son of the late Yusuf Khan, was summoned to the party office where he was physically assaulted, leaving visible injuries and swelling on his body. He was later taken to Dhaka for treatment and received care at a hospital in Narayanganj before being discharged.

On Monday night, his condition deteriorated, and he died on the way to hospital around 10:00pm, family members said.

Zahirul Islam denied the allegations, claiming Idris had come to apologise and that neither he nor his associates assaulted him. He described the accusations as false and baseless.

Md Rabiul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kalapara Police Station, said the body has been sent to the morgue for autopsy. Preparations are underway to file a murder case in connection with the incident.

"Further action will depend on the findings of the post-mortem report and the outcome of the investigation," he added.