In a chilling act of violence that has sent shockwaves across Bangladesh, a 39-year-old scrap trader named Md. Sohag was brutally beaten to death with stones in broad daylight after allegedly refusing to pay extortion money. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening (July 9) near Gate No. 3 of Mitford Hospital in Old Dhaka, one of the city's most congested commercial areas.

Shocking video footage, now viral on social media, shows a group of young men repeatedly throwing stones and bricks from an elevated position onto a motionless body — later identified as Sohag. The footage captures the sheer brutality of the attack, including moments where attackers appear to celebrate the violence.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that Sohag had been running a small scrap trading business in the area for years. Recently, he had been targeted by a group allegedly linked to a local political outfit who were demanding regular extortion payments.

According to preliminary police reports, Sohag was approached multiple times over the past few months by one Mohin, a local thug believed to be affiliated with the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its youth wing, Jubo Dal. Sohag reportedly refused to pay, resulting in escalating threats that eventually culminated in his murder.

Locals and several media outlets have linked the prime suspect, Mohin, to the BNP's local youth network. Witnesses claim Mohin, along with 4–5 accomplices, orchestrated the attack following direct instructions from a senior local BNP figure, Ishaq Mia.

While BNP's central leadership has not yet issued an official response, several human rights watchdogs in Dhaka have called for the party to publicly condemn the attack and assist with the investigation.

Following massive public outcry, law enforcement authorities have acted swiftly:

• Four suspects, including Mohin and another named Tarek Robin, have been arrested.
• A case has been filed with Kotwali Police Station, naming 19 individuals, while additional unidentified suspects are being pursued.
• Authorities confirmed that the attack was pre-planned, and the motive was extortion-related retaliation.

The killing has sparked widespread protests in Dhaka, including in front of Mitford Hospital and at Jagannath University, located nearby. Civil society groups, political activists, and students have joined hands demanding:

• Immediate trial under speedy tribunal laws
• Political deplatforming of those involved
• Long-term policy to end extortion rackets in commercial zones

This murder sheds light on a larger pattern of extortion-linked violence in Bangladesh, often protected by local political patronage. In the past year alone, several small business owners and rickshaw-pullers have been attacked or killed for resisting illegal payments demanded by politically affiliated gangs.

The incident may potentially draw attention from international human rights observers, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and UN Special Rapporteurs, particularly given the video evidence and clear lack of preventative policing in such high-risk zones.

Category	Details
Victim	Md. Sohag, 39, scrap trader
Place of Incident	Mitford Hospital gate, Old Dhaka
Time of Incident	Evening, July 9, 2025
Prime Accused	Mohin (allegedly Jubo Dal member)
Arrested	4 individuals incl. Mohin and Tarek Robin
Case Filed	Yes; 19 named, others unidentified
Political Link	Alleged link to local BNP leaders
Video Evidence	Yes, viral footage widely shared online
Investigation	Active, led by DMP's Serious Crimes Division

Given the political undertones and gravity of this public murder, legal experts and rights activists are urging international monitors to keep watch on:

• Progress of investigation and legal process
• Whether political influence will derail justice
• Patterns of political extortion and violence in Dhaka

The murder of Sohag is more than an isolated crime; it is a window into the intersection of politics, crime, and impunity in urban Bangladesh. If justice is delayed or denied, the precedent it sets could embolden further such violence. The international community, media, and watchdogs must not look away.