Village doctor Khokon killing in Shariatpur leaves family in fear, uncertainty

The family of Khokon Chandra Das, a businessman and village doctor killed in Shariatpur's Damudya upazila, is passing days in deep fear, grief and uncertainty after losing its sole earning member.

Khokon's wife, elderly father and three children have been left virtually helpless, struggling with both financial hardship and insecurity. His wife, Sima Das, has been particularly devastated, as the family's only source of income has come to a halt following his death.

Khokon opened a small pharmacy at Keurbhanga Bazar in Damudya 20 years ago and later added mobile financial services. The shop was the family's sole source of income and has remained closed since his death, pushing them toward destitution.

Khokon Chandra Das, son of Paresh Chandra Das of Tilai village in Damudya upazila, was a well-known medicine trader and mobile banking agent in the area.

On Wednesday night (31 December) around 9:30pm, while returning home, he was attacked in Tilai area under Kaneshwar union. According to police and family members, assailants hacked him with sharp weapons, poured petrol on his body and set him on fire.

He was rescued in a critical condition and admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, where he died on Saturday (3 January) morning. His last rites were performed at his village home the same night following religious rituals.

Mohammad Rabiul Haque, officer-in-charge of Damudya Police Station said, "All three accused named in the murder case have been arrested and will be sent to jail through the court. Necessary security will be provided to the victim's family, and we will submit the charge sheet promptly to ensure justice."

Following the incident, Khokon's father filed a murder case with Damudya Police Station, naming three accused- Sohag Khan, 28, Rabbi Mollah, 24, and Palash Sardar, 25, all residents of the Kaneshwar area. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) later arrested all three from an area in Kishoreganj late Saturday night.

Paresh Chandra Das told The Business Standard, "I am an old man and can barely move properly. Khokon was my only son and my last hope in life. Now he is gone. Who will look after my daughter-in-law and my innocent grandchildren? While in hospital, my son named those who attacked him. They are people from our own area. Now there are rumours of further attacks. We are living in constant fear."

Khokon has two sisters, both are married and live with their own families.

Of Khokon's three sons, the eldest, Bishwajit Das, 21, went to Russia in search of work after completing his HSC. The middle son, Shanta Das, 16, is a grade 10 student at a local school, while the youngest, Adar Das, is only four years old.

The family lived in a house locally known as Tilai Thakur Bari, located about 500 metres inside a deserted area from the Damudya-Shariatpur road. 

Neighbour and relative Nikhil Das said, "The attackers knew that Khokon returned home every night carrying shop money through a deserted road. He trusted people and never suspected anyone. Taking advantage of this, the assailants looted around Tk6 lakh and then killed him."

Khokon's wife Sima Das said, "They wanted to make sure my husband died. After stabbing him, they poured petrol and set him on fire. For four days, I watched him suffer in unbearable pain. I could do nothing. Now I am alone. How will I survive with my children and elderly father-in-law? We are terrified after filing the case. Our shop was our only support, and that too is now closed."