Killing of mayor's son sparks protest

Thousands of people blocked Bogra-Pabna highway in Gobindaganj upazila of the district for three hours on Saturday, protesting the brutal killing of Ashikur Rahman Samya, 16, son of Gobindaganj municipality Mayor and local Awami League leader Ataur Rahman Sarker.

The agitators also demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the killers. They postponed the programme after police and local administration assured them of arresting the killers immediately.

Police recovered the body of Samya, only son of the mayor, and a Class IX student of Gobindaganj High School, from behind Gobindaganj Community Centre on Eid Day, 14 hours after he was called out of their house by his three classmates.

Locals found the body stuffed in a sack in the morning and informed the police.

Mayor Ataur Rahman filed a case with Gobindaganj Police Station on Saturday, accusing 11 people, including councillor Jainul Abedin, of the murder.

In the case statement, Mayor Ataur stated that Samya's classmates Sharier Khan Hridoy, Jakir and Sajib called his son out of his house at Ghoshpara under the municipality on Thursday evening and later killed him with the help of other accused.

Police picked up Hridoy, Rabeya, Runa, Sujan, Rafiqul, Al-Amin, Jakir Hossain and Shimul for interrogation.

After preliminary investigation, police said there had been an altercation between the victim and Hridoy over a costly mobile phone set and previous disputes with some other friends. Hridoy, Jakir and Sajib tactfully called Samya out of the house and later killed him, they added.

Victim's family members alleged that police did not take necessary steps even though they informed them (police) that Samya went missing on Thursday noon.

Ashraful Islam, police superintendent of Gaibandha, said Officer-in-Charge ABM Jahidul Huq, of Gobindaganj Police Station, was closed to the district Police Lines on Saturday night for his negligence of duty.