A Kushtia municipality surveyor allegedly beats his colleague to death during an argument over unpaid wages on Wednesday morning.
The victim, Shahidul Islam, 57, was a resident of Sherkandi and was working as a driver for the municipality for years.
The incident occurred in Room 115 of the Kumarkhali municipal building, alleged family members.
Shahidul’s daughter, Suborna Khatun, claimed her father had long been denied his salary. “Senior staff receive their salaries, but my father was a junior employee, and the municipality never paid him,” she said.
“When he went to ask for his dues, surveyor Firozul Islam punched and kicked him repeatedly. Then they locked him inside Room 101 after killing him. I will file a case.”
The death triggered outrage among relatives and locals, who vandalised a multi-storey building owned by Firozul in Sherkandi.
They later blocked the main gate of the municipal building, demanding justice.
According to police, municipal officials and locals, Kumarkhali Municipality. established in 1869 and classified as a first-class municipality, has around 57 officials and staff.
Authorities reportedly owe Tk10 crore in salaries covering nearly 42 months.
Witnesses said Shahidul had gone to various rooms in the municipal office in the morning, closing the doors in protest over wage arrears.
When he attempted to close the door of Room 115, an argument broke out between him and surveyor Firozul, which escalated into pushing and punching.
Other municipal staff eventually separated them and confined Firozul to Room 115 and Shahidul to Room 101.
A short while later, officials found Shahidul lying unresponsive on the floor of Room 101. He was taken to the upazila health complex where doctors declared him dead.
Nur Islam, the municipal market inspector and an eyewitness, said Shahidul was attempting to lock doors after protesting his unpaid wages.
“At that moment he and Firozul got into an argument and scuffle,” he said. “Shahidul had a heart condition. He suddenly fell ill and collapsed. There was no fight.”
However, during a visit to the health complex, Shahidul was found with visible injuries to his face, and his relatives were in tears.
His niece, Rupali Khatun, said she rushed from her nearby home after hearing a fight in the municipal office.
“When we unlocked Room 101, we saw his face injured and bleeding. They killed him over his salary. We want justice,” she said.
Locals also vandalised the glass windows and electrical meters of Firozul’s building in Sherkandi. Police were seen inspecting both the vandalised site and the municipal premises, where crowds were demanding action.
Shahidul’s brother, Monirul Islam, alleged, “Accountant Rafiqul and surveyor Firozul killed my brother. If we do not get justice, we will launch a tough movement.”
Surveyor Firozul has been absconding since the incident, and his phone has been switched off.
Municipal accountant Rafiqul Islam denied the allegations.
“I was doing financial calculations in the office. Suddenly I heard loud arguments,” he said.
“When I went there, Shahidul was speaking loudly. I told him to calm down and left. Moments later we heard he had suffered a stroke. There was no physical fight. About Tk10 crore in salaries is pending for 42 months.”
Kumarkhali Police Station officer-in-charge Khondker Ziaur Rahman said the body has been sent to Kushtia General Hospital morgue for post-mortem examination.
“The exact cause of death will be known once the report arrives. The dispute began over unpaid wages,” he said.
He added that police had prevented locals from further damaging the surveyor’s house.
Kumarkhali municipal administrator and upazila nirbahi officer MM Mikail Islam did not respond over the phone and could not be reached as he was outside the district on official training.
Assistant commissioner (land) Bijoy Kumar Jowardar said they had visited the scene.
“Initial information suggests an unpleasant incident occurred following an argument over unpaid wages. The actual cause will be confirmed after the post-mortem report,” he said.
