Chhatra Dal leader Shakil Islam, attacked in Gurudaspur, Natore, dies in Dhaka hospital

Shakil Islam, member secretary of Gurudaspur municipal Chhatra Dal, who was seriously injured in an attack by assailants in Natore, has died while undergoing treatment in Dhaka. He died at around 8:30pm on Monday, October 26, at Bangladesh Medical University Hospital in the capital.

Shakil Islam was the son of Rabiul Karim of Khamar Nachkoir Khoarpara area in Gurudaspur upazila. He was the member secretary of Gurudaspur municipal Chhatra Dal.

On the night of October 14, Shakil was attacked in the Chanchkoir Bazarpara area of Gurudaspur municipal town. The assailants hacked him with sharp weapons. His father, Rabiul Karim, filed a case over the incident at Gurudaspur police station on October 19.

Jubo Dal leader Israfil Sheikh and Gurudaspur police station officer-in-charge (OC) Abdul Hannan confirmed Shakil's death. Israfil Sheikh said that after fighting for his life for 12 days, doctors at the hospital declared Shakil dead at around 8:30pm on Monday. His body was due to reach his village home that night.

Police and party sources said that at around 9pm on October 14, Shakil was attacked by armed, helmet-wearing assailants in the Chanchkoir Bazarpara area. The attackers hacked him and fled on a motorcycle.

In the hospital emergency department, Shakil had said he was walking home from Chanchkoir market at around 9pm. When he reached Nur Academy in the Bazarpara area, two helmet-wearing men arrived on a motorcycle and fired at him. He ran to escape the shots.

Shakil had said that when the bullets missed him, the assailants chased him. In front of the house of former Gurudaspur municipal BNP general secretary Dulal Sarkar, they hacked him with sharp weapons and he fell to the ground. Before local people could reach the spot after hearing his cries, the assailants fled on the motorcycle.

Eyewitness Suman Rahman said they heard two gunshots in succession near Shahida Jalil School in Bazarpara. As they moved forward, they saw Shakil running away, chased by two men on a motorcycle. A short while later he saw the attackers returning with blood-stained weapons. Shakil was later found crying out behind Shahida Jalil Government Primary School, and they rescued him and took him to hospital.

Shakil was first taken, seriously injured, to Gurudaspur Upazila Health Complex. After primary treatment there, he was sent to Rajshahi that night for advanced treatment.

Dr Nawshin Jahan of Gurudaspur Upazila Health Complex said Shakil was brought to the hospital in a serious condition, with sharp-weapon injuries on his hands, legs and various parts of his body. As his physical condition was poor, he was sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital after treatment.

Jubo Dal leader Israfil Sheikh said that on the night of the attack, Shakil was given at least five bags of blood at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. When his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. After an operation there, his condition worsened further and he was admitted to Bangladesh Medical University Hospital. While under treatment, his kidneys stopped working. As his condition deteriorated further, he was kept under intensive observation, and after being placed in the ICU he was put on life support.

Gurudaspur OC Abdul Hannan said the case filed by Shakil's father would now be recorded as a murder case. No one had yet been arrested over the incident, but police operations were continuing, and police were very close to uncovering the mystery of the killing, he said.

Abdul Aziz, member of parliament for Natore-4 (Gurudaspur-Baraigram), expressed sorrow over the incident and said the hacking to death of the Chhatra Dal leader was very sad. He said he had instructed police to identify the criminals and hoped they would be arrested.