Jubo Dal Leader Jahir Fakir Hacked to Death in Sonargaon After Announcing Chairman Candidacy
A Jubo Dal leader named Jahir Fakir (45) has been hacked to death in Sonargaon, Narayanganj. At around 10 p.m. on Wednesday (October 21), a group of 15 to 20 men blocked his path in the Char Kishoreganj area as he was returning home and hacked him indiscriminately with sharp weapons before fleeing.
Jahir Fakir was the president of the Kalapaharia Union Jubo Dal in neighbouring Araihazar upazila. He was also a joint convener of the Araihazar Upazila Jubo Dal. He was the son of Mohammad Abdur Rahman of Kalapaharia.
Local sources said that although Jahir's home was in Araihazar upazila, he had been living in a rented house in Munshiganj Sadar for several years. He ran a pharmacy in the Char Kishoreganj area of Sonargaon, and that night he had set off for home after closing the shop.
Police and locals said the attackers stopped him on the way, hacked him with sharp machetes (chapati) and left him lying on the road before escaping. Locals rescued him in a critical condition and took him to Munshiganj General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The victim's nephew, Ismail Hossain, alleged that Mobarak Hossain of the Kalapaharia area and his men killed his uncle. He said: 'My uncle had announced he would contest the upcoming Union Parishad election as a chairman candidate. Mobarak Hossain had also announced he would run for chairman. That is why Mobarak Hossain had been threatening my uncle from the very beginning. Today he was killed in a planned way.'
In an earlier statement, Ismail Hossain had said his uncle had a feud with a political leader in the Kalapaharia area and was murdered in a planned attack because he was in discussion as a chairman candidate in the upcoming UP election.
Attempts were made to reach Araihazar Upazila BNP general secretary Jewel Ahmed on his mobile phone for comment, but he did not receive the call.
Khorshed Alam, member secretary of Araihazar Upazila Jubo Dal, said: 'Jahir was a dedicated leader of our party. His home was in Kalapaharia, but he lived in Munshiganj. Suddenly I got the news that a group of 15–20 people had killed him. He often used to tell me that he would be killed. But I could not confirm who he had a feud with.'
Mohammad Abdul Barik, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sonargaon Police Station, said the slain Jubo Dal leader had a pharmacy in the Char Kishoreganj area. On his way home after closing the shop, men from a rival side hacked and seriously injured him. Locals took him to Munshiganj General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The OC added that police are working to identify the motive behind the murder and those involved, and that details would be available once the investigation is complete. The investigation into the killing is ongoing.
The murder comes amid tensions in local politics ahead of the upcoming Union Parishad elections. According to the family's allegation, announcing his candidacy for chairman proved fatal for Jahir Fakir. Police are now working to uncover the motive and arrest the attackers, while the victim's family and local residents await progress in the investigation.
