Sramik Dal leader allegedly beaten to death over land dispute in Sherpur; police recover body before funeral prayers

An allegation has been raised that Md. Solaiman Mia (55), a Sramik Dal leader, was killed with punches by rivals over a land dispute in Sribardi, Sherpur. Police recovered his body on Wednesday afternoon (21 October) and sent it to hospital for an autopsy.

The deceased, Solaiman Mia, was a leader of the Kharriakazirchar Union unit of Sramik Dal. According to the allegation, he died the previous day, Tuesday afternoon, in the Madhyalangarpara area of Kharriakazir Union in the upazila.

His family alleges that on Tuesday afternoon Solaiman Mia went to plant boundary posts on his own land. At that time, over a long-standing enmity concerning the land, rivals including Alauddin, Bachchu Mia and Piara Begum, along with five or six others, launched a sudden attack on him.

According to the allegation, the attackers beat him indiscriminately and punched him in the chest. Injured, he returned home and died a short while later.

His funeral prayers were scheduled for 10am on Wednesday. But in the morning the family suddenly alleged that he had died from the punches during the land dispute. Once the allegation surfaced, the situation changed.

Acting on the allegation, police recovered his body roughly 24 hours later. On Wednesday afternoon the body was sent to hospital for an autopsy so that the actual cause of death can be confirmed.

The family further alleges that when his son tried to go to Sribardi Police Station to file a written complaint, the rivals’ men obstructed him on the way. There is also an allegation that an attempt was made to settle the matter secretly in exchange for 50,000 taka to hush it up.

Sribardi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Nurul Alam said that after receiving an oral allegation of murder, the body was recovered and sent for autopsy. He said no written complaint has yet been received from the family.

The OC added that the matter is under investigation. The next steps in the case are expected to be determined on the basis of the autopsy report and a written complaint.

The allegation of a death arising from a land-boundary dispute has stirred discussion in the area. The accused have not yet commented; police say the real facts will become clear once the investigation is complete.