Despite taking extensive security precautions, including the installation of bulletproof glass at his business premises, a former joint secretary of the South Africa Awami League was shot dead by criminals in Soweto, near Johannesburg, on Tuesday.
Abu Naser, 50, had reportedly been living in fear of a targeted attack for some time. To safeguard his life, he had recently reinforced his shop with bulletproof glass and hired a personal bodyguard.
However, these measures proved futile as he was ambushed and killed at approximately 5pm while standing directly in front of his establishment.
According to his relatives and local expatriates, the incident was not a random robbery but a meticulously planned assassination carried out by hired hitmen. Witnesses reported that the assailants fired six to seven rounds at Nasher to ensure his death before fleeing the scene. He died on the spot, according to local media.
Naser, originally from the Badamtali area in Ward 8 of Charkakara Union under Companiganj Upazila in Noakhali, had moved to South Africa in 2007. Over the years, he established several successful businesses, including a shopping mall.
Speaking to media, family members confirmed Naser’s political role and alleged that the killing stemmed from a bitter business dispute. A conflict had recently emerged between Naser and another businessman, also from Noakhali, regarding the partnership of a large shop.
Relatives noted that their anxieties had peaked following this dispute, which is what prompted Naser to invest in bulletproof glass and private security.
Despite his efforts to create a safe haven within his shop, the assailants reportedly lay in wait to strike when he was most vulnerable outside the protected area.
