Journalist Lutfuzzaman Alif, who was shot dead in Netrokona’s Durgapur on Thursday night, had survived a brutal attack nearly a year earlier. Police suspect his killing was premeditated, while his wife said he had left home to pursue a news story.
However, what Alif was investigating before his death remains unclear, and police have yet to establish whether the two attacks were connected.
Alif, a former army serviceman, later joined an internet protocol television channel called Ruposhi Bangla. He also ran a Facebook page, Detective Article, where he regularly posted about smuggling and irregularities.
On the day of his killing, he had published a post and video about Rohingya rehabilitation in Netrokona.
On 10 November last year, Alif was hacked and seriously injured near Teribazar Ghat on the Someshwari River in Durgapur upazila. An accompanying colleague was chased when he tried to intervene.
Durgapur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khandaker Shaker Ahmed Khan said investigators had yet to determine whether that attack was linked to Thursday’s killing.
“The incident has only just occurred. We have started an investigation. We do not yet have enough information to reach any conclusion,” he told TIMES.
Two suspects were arrested over last November’s attack, and police subsequently submitted a charge sheet against them, he said.
Alif was shot dead around 8pm on Thursday outside a tea stall at Utrail Bazar in the Telenjia area along the Shyamganj-Birishiri road in Durgapur municipality.
Witnesses said he had finished drinking tea and left the stall for Birishiri Utrail Bazar, but returned to collect a mobile phone he had forgotten.
As he was leaving with the phone, two young men approached the stall and fired several shots at him.
The attackers fled as local residents rushed towards the scene after hearing the gunshots.
Residents took Alif to Durgapur Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.
Tea stall owner Robin Rangsa said, “I heard four gunshots in quick succession. Afterwards, I went home out of fear.”
He estimated that the attackers were aged between 30 and 35. One was wearing a lungi and the other trousers.
Police said all police stations in Netrokona district had been alerted, checkpoints had been established at various locations and CCTV footage from surrounding areas was being collected and examined.
Netrokona Superintendent of Police Md Tarikul Islam, Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Mahfuza Khatun, Additional Superintendent of Police (District Special Branch) Hafizul Islam, Officer-in-Charge Khandaker Shaker Ahmed Khan and Durgapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ahmed Sadat visited the scene on Thursday night.
“We suspect this was a premeditated murder. Multiple police units are working to arrest those involved,” the superintendent of police told journalists.
Alif was the son of Mohabbat Ali Fakir of Shunoi village in Pogla union of Kalmakanda upazila.
About six years ago, he married Anandita Sangma, daughter of Shila Sangma and the late Philip Rangsa of Telenjia village. He had lived at his in-laws’ home since their marriage.
The couple had two children: four-year-old daughter Pranthi and 18-month-old son Ayan Safwan.
Recalling their final conversation, Anandita said her husband had left home telling her he was working on a news story.
“Feed the children and put them to sleep. I’ll be a little late coming home. I’m busy working on a news story,” she recalled him saying.
Those were among the last words she heard from her husband before he was killed.
Breaking down in tears, Anandita demanded justice for his killing and the loss suffered by their two young children.
“I want the police to find those who killed my husband and left my two innocent children without their father, and bring them to justice. I want them to face severe punishment,” she said.
