Two days prior to the brutal killing of scrap trader Lal Chand Sohag in front of Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital, he was involved in a physical altercation with the suspects. The confrontation reportedly led to the planning of his murder.

This information was confirmed through investigation sources and conversations with local traders.

On July 7, Sohag had a verbal and physical dispute at his shop with Mahmudul Hasan Mohin, one of the accused in the murder. Police from Bangshal Police Station contacted Sohag regarding the incident, but he assured them the matter had been resolved.

Sources further revealed that Sohag and Mohin were close friends and business partners. Sohag had also financially supported Mohin for political events and other programmes. About a month ago, Mohin demanded a fixed monthly payment of Tk 2 lakh from Sohag. When Sohag refused, tensions escalated into enmity. The dispute over money culminated in the altercation two days before the murder. That same day, Mohin allegedly conspired with Titon Gazi to kill Sohag.

Repeated attempts to reach Bangshal Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rafiqul Islam by phone were unsuccessful. Inspector (Investigation) Sohel Hasan said he was unaware of the matter.

However, Kotwali Police Station OC Moniruzzaman Monir said, “Sohag’s shop is not within our jurisdiction—it falls under Bangshal. During our investigation, we discovered video footage confirming the altercation two days prior to the murder.”

According to investigation sources, 19 individuals were directly or indirectly involved in Sohag’s murder. Authorities have identified 11 suspects, of whom seven have already been arrested. One of the detainees has given a confessional statement, while others remain in remand under various durations.

According to eyewitnesses, on the day of the murder, shortly after Sohag arrived at his shop in the afternoon, the assailants arrived on seven motorcycles and began attacking him. They dragged him to the front of Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, where they entered through Gate No. 3 and repeatedly struck his chest and head with brick-and-cement-like concrete blocks, killing him on the spot. The attackers then dragged his body back outside to the street, where they jumped on his chest in a frenzied celebration. Several videos of the incident have since circulated widely on social media.

According to investigation sources, the killers initially planned to murder scrap trader Sohag inside his shop. Weapons were reportedly procured through an associate known as Chhoto Monir. Later, in an attempt to divert attention and create confusion, they devised a plan to stage the killing as a mob attack. Sohag was dragged from his shop and murdered in front of Mitford Hospital in broad daylight. The assailants celebrated wildly after the killing, aiming to portray the incident as spontaneous mob violence and evade legal consequences. Investigators believe the murder was also intended to send a strong warning to other traders.

Just off Mitford Road, heading toward Chawkbazar, lies Rajani Bose Lane—a narrow alley lined with scrap shops. On the right side stands a shop marked “Sohana Metal,” which Sohag had rented a few months earlier to start his business. On the afternoon of July 9, he was forcibly dragged from this shop and killed. Since the incident, Sohana Metal has remained shuttered.

Following Sohag’s murder, traders in the area have been living in fear. On Sunday (July 13), visiting Rajani Bose Lane, Banglanews reporter found that none of the shopkeepers were willing to speak about the incident, citing safety concerns.

At Gate No. 3 of Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, curious onlookers were seen continuing to visit the site of the killing. Two concrete blocks resembling bricks and cement remain inside the gate, drawing speculation. Some visitors believe these were used in the murder. However, police clarified that the actual murder weapon—a concrete block—has been collected as evidence, and the remaining debris was placed there later by unknown individuals.

Local vendors and rickshaw drivers said that since the murder, crowds have been gathering daily to view the site. On Saturday, the crowd was so large it resembled a public rally.

Kotwali Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman Monir confirmed, “We have collected the stone used in the murder as evidence. The block currently at the site was not used in the killing—it was likely placed there afterward.”

Law enforcement has arrested eight individuals in connection with the murder. Those are Mahmudul Hasan Mohin (41), Tarique Rahman Robin (22), Alamgir (28), Monir alias Lomba Monir (25), Md Titon Gazi (32), Sajib Bepari (27), Md Rajib Bepari (25) and Nannu (26).

Of these, three were arrested by Kotwali police, two by the Detective Branch (DB), and three by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Tarique Rahman Robin has reportedly given a confessional statement. 

Two cases have been filed: one for murder and another under the Arms Act. Despite the arrests, 11 suspects remain at large, including Sarwar Hossain Titu, Monir alias Chhoto Monir, Riad, Saba Karim Lucky, Kalu alias Swechasebak Kalu, Rajom Ali Pintu, Md Sirajul Islam, Anwarul Haque Roni, Kaiyum Molla, Rakesh, and Rahim.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), DB, and RAB are conducting parallel investigations and actively pursuing the fugitives.

SMS/