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A small-town trader in Shariatpur has died after being stabbed and set on fire with petrol in a gruesome attack, prompting calls for exemplary punishment for those responsible.
Khokon Chandra Das, 50, succumbed to his injuries around 8am on Saturday while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, said Assistant Professor Shaon Bin Rahman of the institute.
The attack took place at about 9:30pm on Wednesday near Tilai Bazaar in Kaneshwar Union of Damudya Upazila, according to Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Tanvir Hossain.
Police said Khokon was waylaid on his way home after closing his shop, stabbed repeatedly and then doused with petrol before being set alight.
Khokon, the son of Paresh Chandra Das, ran a small business in the local market as a pharmacy outlet and mobile financial service agent.
Police and relatives said the assailants set him on fire after realising he had recognised them. Hearing his screams, locals rushed to the spot, forcing the attackers to flee.
He was first rushed to Dhaka in critical condition. Doctors performed surgery on his wounds on Thursday afternoon, with medical staff saying around 30 percent of his body had suffered burns.
On Thursday night, Khokon’s father filed a case naming three suspects: Sohag Khan, 27, son of Babul Khan; Rabbi Mollah, 21, son of Shamsuddin Mollah; and Palash Sardar, 25, son of Shahid Sardar. No arrests have yet been made.
Additional Superintendent Tanvir said police had learned of the death from family members and were looking into the case.
The Shariatpur District President of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad Amit Ghatak Chowdhury expressed deep sorrow and demanded the highest punishment.
“We tried our utmost to save him and stand by his family,” he said, urging swift legal action to prevent such “heinous” crimes from recurring.