In a shocking incident that gripped the nation, the brutal murder of Lal Chand, known as Sohag, a 39-year-old scrap trader in Old Dhaka, unfolded in broad daylight as onlookers stood by, paralyzed by fear and indifference.
Sohag was dragged from his shop, subjected to a vicious assault with rods and concrete blocks, all while a crowd watched in silence, some even recording the horrifying scene. Despite his wife Lucky Akter’s heart-wrenching cries for justice, no one came to his rescue.
The grim event, described as a public execution, took place on the streets, with the quiet acquiescence of the bystanders painting a chilling backdrop. Reports from the police and family suggest that Sohag had been facing coercion for extortion payments and harassment from local political thugs allegedly associated with Jubo Dal. His steadfast refusal to succumb to their demands and his business success seemed to have marked him as a target. Tragically, his stand against the extortionists led to his brutal demise.
The perpetrators carried out the heinous act without hesitation, met with a disturbing lack of intervention from the crowd. This disturbing spectacle underscores a society gripped by fear, where barbarity is accepted as the norm, and moral courage is in short supply.
The public outcry following the incident manifested in widespread protests by university students across the country, with demonstrations at prominent institutions such as Dhaka University, BUET, and Jagannath University. However, beyond the confines of these campuses, ordinary citizens are left to grapple with the unsettling reality that their streets no longer belong to the people but to those who wield violence with impunity.
In a city teeming with inhabitants, Sohag met a tragic end in solitude, leaving behind more than just a stained street in Old Dhaka. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the collective apathy that pervades society, reflecting a pervasive silence that speaks volumes about our complicity in the face of such atrocities.