TIMES National
Football fever surrounding the World Cup has turned tragic in Bangladesh, with a Brazil supporter allegedly beaten to death in Cumilla and at least 10 people injured in separate clashes in Tangail and Jhenaidah following heated arguments among Argentina and Brazil fans over match celebrations, seating disputes and refereeing decisions.
A Brazil football fan was allegedly beaten to death in Cumilla following a clash over celebrations during the Argentina–Egypt match on Tuesday night.
The incident took place around 10:30pm in Dhanpur area of Uttar Durgapur Union, near Kotbari Bishwaroad in Cumilla Adarsha Sadar Upazila, said Towhidul Anwar, officer-in-charge of Cumilla Kotwali Model Police Station.
The deceased was identified as Mohammad Shariful Islam, 32, a resident of Uttar Cheranga village in Jaldhaka Upazila of Nilphamari district. He worked as an auto-rickshaw driver and lived in a rented house in Mathpukur area under Ward No 23 of Cumilla City.
According to local residents, Shariful celebrated after Egypt scored the first goal against Argentina and allegedly mocked Argentina supporters. A heated argument broke out between the two groups over the incident.
At one stage, several people known as Argentina supporters allegedly assaulted Shariful. Locals moved him to a nearby room, but he was allegedly attacked again there.
During the second assault, Shariful became critically injured, with bleeding reported from his nose and ears. Locals alleged that the attackers threatened others against taking him to hospital.
Later, some residents secretly took him to Cumilla Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Shariful’s wife Beauty Banu said her husband had gone to a nearby garage after dinner to watch the match with other auto-rickshaw drivers.
“He was beaten three times. Later, the attackers kept our family confined,” she alleged. Shariful’s two daughters, Sharifa Akter and Akleema Akter, were seen crying inconsolably following their father’s death.
Police said the clash took place following an argument over the football match. The body was recovered and sent to the morgue of Cumilla Medical College Hospital for autopsy.
Meanwhile, football-related clashes were also reported at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University in Tangail, where at least 10 people, including an assistant proctor, were injured following clashes between students while watching the Argentina–Egypt match.
Students vandalised window panes of an academic building and flower pots in front of the building during the clashes. Witnesses said an argument broke out between students of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Food Technology and Nutritional Science (FTNS) departments over seating arrangements before the match.
The dispute later turned into a physical altercation. Although the situation was brought under control following intervention by the proctorial body, fresh clashes erupted shortly after the match ended.
Students from ICT, FTNS and Statistics departments were involved in a series of chases and counter-chases around the campus. Another clash broke out around 1am at the first academic building involving students from ICT, FTNS, Statistics and Chemistry departments.
The situation was brought under control around 3am after teachers from different departments intervened. By Wednesday morning, seven students were receiving treatment at Tangail Medical College Hospital, while one critically injured student was admitted to Kumudini Hospital in Mirzapur. Assistant Proctor Abdul Quddus received primary treatment.
University Proctor Monir Morshed said, “The matter will be discussed with the vice-chancellor and the students. The overall situation on campus is now normal.”
In another incident, an Argentina–Brazil supporters’ clash in Chachra village of Kaliganj Upazila in Jhenaidah left a 22-year-old youth injured.
The incident occurred around 2am on Wednesday after supporters of the two teams engaged in an argument over refereeing decisions following the Argentina–Egypt match. The dispute later turned into a clash, leaving several people injured.
The injured were treated locally, while Argentina supporter Mamun Hossain was admitted to Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex with serious injuries.
