12 arrested in Satkania for killing youth over Facebook post dispute

Police have arrested 12 of 13 named accused over the murder of Jahedul Alam, locally known as "Picchi Jahed", in Chattogram's Satkania following a dispute over a Facebook video post on the cutting of government trees.

Police said 10-12 people attacked Jahedul with machetes, sticks and iron rods after blocking his motorcycle with tree trunks and a van, about two hours after an argument over the Facebook post at a sweet shop.

Chattogram District Police Superintendent (SP) Md Masud Alam disclosed the information at a press conference at his office around 11am today (16 September) and said, "Jahedul had an altercation with several people at a sweet shop in Nayahaat area of Puranagar around 8pm on 30 August."

"About two hours later, around 10pm, Jahedul and his companion Md Wahid were travelling towards Bajalia Station when their way was blocked on the Bajalia-Shilghata road in Puranagar Union", he said.

The SP said the attackers hacked Jahedul with machetes and beat him with sticks and iron rods before locals rescued him and took him to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Police said accused Zainal Abedin Manik had posted a video showing the cutting of government-owned trees in Puranagar Union Parishad, portraying Jahedul as involved in the act.

Angered by the post, Jahedul allegedly abused and threatened Manik and others at a sweet shop.

Later, Manik, Tipu, Riduan, Jasim and others discussed the matter and planned to "teach Jahedul a lesson", police said.

SP Masud Alam said the murder was not premeditated but stemmed from a local dispute over a Facebook post, adding, "An argument broke out over a Facebook post, which subsequently led to this kind of killing," he said.

Police said the attackers blocked Jahedul and Wahid's motorcycle with tree trunks and a van at Bhangar Gora while they were heading towards Bajalia Station, then surrounded and assaulted Jahedul, also injuring Wahid.

Jahedul's mother, Mosa Monowara Begum, filed a murder case with Satkania Police Station on 2 September, naming 13 people and five to six unidentified individuals.

Following the case, the District Detective Branch (DB) and Satkania police jointly arrested Md Azad and Md Helal from Chattogram city.

Later, 10 more accused were arrested in raids in different parts of Dhaka around 1am on 14 September.

With the latest arrests, 12 of the 13 named accused have been arrested.

The 12 arrested are Jasim Uddin, 50; Zainal Abedin Manik, 26; Md Riduan, 26; Md Tipu, 35; Abu Mazharul Islam Ifaz, 20; Abdullah Al Tushar, 30; Khorshed Alam alias Faruk, 52; Md Rabiul Hossain, 21; Abul Kashem, 38; Habibur Islam alias Habib, 28; Md Helal; and Md Azad.

Police said Azad was produced before a court, where he gave a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Based on his statement, interrogation of the other accused and investigation findings, police are trying to identify and arrest the remaining people involved, they said.

Asked about the accused's political affiliations, SP Masud Alam said the investigation had found no evidence of any political or organisational links.

Some of those arrested have one or two previous cases over local fights, land disputes or conflicts with neighbours, but none has been linked to any major criminal case, he said.