A 52-year-old bus helper was killed on Tuesday morning following a physical altercation triggered by a trivial dispute at the Sayedabad Bus Terminal in the capital.
The deceased, identified as Fakir Alamgir, was a resident of Karatitola in Sayedabad, where he lived with his wife and four children. He hailed from Aliganj village under Hajiganj upazila in Chandpur district, and was the son of the late Kalu Mia.
The incident took place around 9am in front of the Bus Owners’ Association office at the terminal.
According to the victim’s son, Rabiul Awal, Fakir Alamgir worked as a bus helper and also sold Sharbat (drink) from a van during the day. His mother, Tuni Akhter, sold khichuri (hotchpotch) in front of the Bus Owners’ Association office.
Rabiul said that the trouble began in the morning when an unnamed woman was sweeping the area in front of the association office. An altercation ensued between the sweeping woman and Tuni Akhter. Fakir Alamgir and Rabiul were standing nearby at the time.
At one point during the argument, the sweeping woman’s son, Shukur, rushed to the spot and got into a scuffle with Alamgir. Shukur reportedly punched Alamgir repeatedly in the chest, causing him to fall onto the street. During the fall, a sharp corner of a broken brick penetrated Alamgir’s head.
He was immediately rescued and rushed to Mugda Medical College Hospital, where the attending doctors pronounced him dead after an examination.
When contacted, Jatrabari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Rakib said that an altercation had broken out between a khichuri seller and a betel leaf (paan) seller over a trivial matter. The man reportedly fell onto the street and died during the subsequent scuffle.
“The matter is being investigated in detail,” the OC added.
