Two held over death threat to trader selling beef at lower prices

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested two people for allegedly threatening to kill a trader who sells meat at affordable prices.

"We have arrested two people from Ashulia who threatened to kill beef trader Khalilur Rahman who gained popularity on social media," RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Commander Khandaker Al Moin said during a press briefing on Sunday.

"The arrestees, Nurul Haque, and one of his accomplices Mohammad Imon, have confessed to their involvement during preliminary interrogation," the RAB official added.

Khalil, a meat trader from the capital's Shajahanpur area started selling beef at Tk595 per kg at his shop on 18 November last year. It got him popular in various print and electronic media including social media.

Many meat traders also started selling beef at Tk600 per kg seeing Khalil's example. 

On 22 December that year, the Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection, Meat Traders Association, and Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association held a joint meeting and decided to sell beef at Tk650 per kg.

While the decision brought relief to the consumers, traders who sell meat at higher prices were unhappy over it. A meat trader was even killed for selling beef at the mandated price at Arani Market in Rajshahi.

On 18 January, Khalilur Rahman got a call on his mobile phone. The caller demanded Tk25 lakh from him and threatened to kill Khalil and his son. 

Subsequently, Khalil lodged a general diary at Shahjahanpur police station on 20 January. When the matter was publicised in various print and electronic media including social media, it drew RAB's attention and the agency took action to arrest the people threatening Khalil.