Local residents and family members formed a human chain in Umedpur Union, Shibchar Upazila of Madaripur on Friday, demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged murder of 38-year-old Sohel Bepari, found hanging from a tree.
Relatives allege that Sohel was murdered over unpaid loan interest and called for exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
According to the family, Sohel went missing around 10 pm on Tuesday night. His body was discovered the following morning hanging from a tree near his home in the Alepur area of Shibchar.
The family claims that Sohel had borrowed money from a local man named Hasan Madbar at high interest, and had previously been assaulted by Hasan and his associates for failing to repay the loan.
“My father borrowed money from Hasan Madbar, who runs a local interest business. They have now killed him and hung his body on the tree to make it appear as a suicide,” said Sumaiya Akter, Sohel’s eldest daughter.
She added that there were signs of a struggle in nearby fields and soil in her father’s clenched fists.
“He did not commit suicide. Hasan Madbar and his men continue to threaten our family,” she said.
Police recovered the body and sent it to Madaripur Morgue for post-mortem examination. Attempts to reach Shibchar Police OC Shafiqul Islam for comment were unsuccessful.
During the human chain, protesters demanded a swift and transparent investigation and urged authorities to bring the culprits to justice.
Family members and local residents called for exemplary punishment to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.
