Abu Bakkar Siddique, alias Russell, a Ward No 31 Sramik Dal leader who was critically injured in a recent attack in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, has passed away while undergoing treatment.
He died on Thursday at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) hospital, seven days after the attack.
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Monirul Islam confirmed his death news to the Times of Bangladesh.
According to police and family sources, Russell was attacked on 13 August at around 8pm in front of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.
Following the incident, Russell’s wife, Shirin Akhter, filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on Saturday night. Jahid Hossain Morol, the joint convener of Dhaka Metropolitan North Jubo Dal, was named as the principal accused in the case.
Other named accused in the case include Picchi Rakib, Johirul Islam Biplob, Picchi Jewel, Monir Hossain, Pappu, Asabur Rahman, Limon, Mama Saiful, Sohel, Sujon alias Kala Sujon, Al Amin, Chot Ferdaus, Jafar, Josim, Imran, Khairul, Imran Hossain Bayezid, Uzzal, Jibon, and Ferdaus. Additionally, 15 to 20 unidentified individuals were also accused.
According to the details of the First Information Report (FIR), Monir Hossain Shanto hacked Russell’s head and other parts of his body with a “Samurai” sword during the attack. When Russell tried to block the blow with his hand, his right elbow was severely injured. At one point, Pappu struck his head with a cleaver. When Russell attempted to block that blow, three fingers of his left hand were cut.
Other accused individuals also attacked different parts of Russell’s body with cleavers and iron rods. The attackers fled the scene, threatening to kill him, as local people rushed to the spot.
Shirin Akhter alleged that her husband, besides running his business, was a candidate for the presidency of Ward No 31 Sramik Dal under Dhaka Metropolitan North. He had also submitted nomination papers for the post of president of Ward No 31 BNP.
She claimed that Jahid Hossain Morol had warned him not to stand as a candidate, and therefore, her husband was targeted in a planned attack to remove him from the race.
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station OC Monirul Islam said, “The incident of the attack is currently under investigation. We have arrested several of the accused, who are currently out on bail. The police are working at the field level to quickly bring all those involved in the attack to justice.”
