Seven families have been left destitute and living under the open sky after a violent mob attacked their homes in Bhangura, Pabna accusing them of being involved in a murder. The mob vandalized, looted, and torched ten houses of those families in Byridhamrich village.
The dreadful incident took place on June 10, when a coordinated group of criminals attacked the village, damaging, looting, and setting fire to the houses belonging to these seven families.
Victims alleged that a group of criminals falsely accusing them with the murder of a 62-year-old night watchman Osman Gani at Chandipur’s Sikibi Alim Madrasa on June 9 looted and destroyed their houses.
Osman Gani served as the muezzin at the local Kazipara Mosque.
On the night of the murder of Osman Gani a local named Shahadat Hossain visited Osman Gani along with his girlfriend to ask him to perform their wedding ceremony. Osman refused, citing Shahadat is already married with children. Shortly thereafter, Osman was murdered.
On the morning of June 10, locals detained Shahadat and handed him over to the police on suspicion of involvement in the murder. Osman’s son, Abdul Barik, filed a complaint naming unidentified individuals as suspects.
The houses that were destroyed belonged to Shahadat, his six brothers and one sister.
A Madrasa caretaker named Saidur Rahman allegedly used the mosque microphone to incite mob violence, instructing people to destroy and set fire to the houses.
Saidur is believed to be a supporter of Jamaat-e-Islami, though local Jamaat Amir Maulana Mohir Uddin clarified that Saidur is not a formal member but a sympathizer—and denied that he made the mic announcement.
Minutes after the call, 10–12 individuals launched a coordinated attack, ransacking homes, looting belongings (furniture, cash, gold, grain, livestock), and then setting them ablaze.
Victim Sabina Khatun said, “They broke in without warning. They took everything—my furniture, money, jewelry, crops, even our cows, goats, chickens.”
Robiul Karim one victim of the vandalism incident, filed a case at Bhangura Police Station naming people 13 named suspects and 30–35 unnamed individuals.
Meanwhile, Police also arrested two teens—14-year‑old Habib (son of jail guard Zakil Haq Pramanik) and 15-year‑old Ahmad Ullah (son of Asmat Ali) in connection with the murder of Osman Gani. The arrested teens confessed to the court of their involvement in Osman Gani killing “for drug money,” Police said.
Shahadat was released after being cleared of involvement.
The affected families are calling for compensation and legal accountability. Victim Laily Khatun said, “They attacked us believing my brother was involved. He was innocent. We demand compensation and punishments for those responsible.”
UNO of Bhangura Najmun Nahar told The Times of Bangladesh that relief has been provided to each family. They were given dry food, corrugated sheets, and Tk 6,000 in cash per household, she added.