Second Victim Dies After Attack at Goalanda Madrasa in Rajbari Over Food
Sonaban Bibi, 65, the assistant injured in an attack during food serving at a madrasa in Goalanda upazila of Rajbari, has died, following the death of the cook in the same incident.
She died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital at around 5:30am on Saturday. Goalanda Ghat police station officer-in-charge Shafiqul Islam confirmed the death.
The incident took place on Friday afternoon at the Anjuman-e-Quaderia Madrasatu Sabi-il-Hasan Dakhil Madrasa in Daulatdia, Goalanda.
According to eyewitness accounts, after being refused food, a man struck cook Fazer Ali Sardar, 70, and his assistant Sonaban Bibi on the head and body with a wooden cooking paddle. Fazer Ali died in the attack.
Fazer Ali was a resident of Mallikpara village in Alipur union of Rajbari Sadar upazila. Sonaban Bibi was the wife of the late Saimuddin Sheikh of Siddik Kazipara in Bahirchar Daulatdia, in Daulatdia union of Goalanda upazila.
Seriously injured, Sonaban Bibi was first taken to Goalanda Upazila Health Complex and then to Faridpur Medical College Hospital. When her condition worsened, she was sent at night to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where she died during treatment.
Local people detained the accused man and handed him over to police. His identity was not known at first but was later established.
Police said the man is Md Sentu, 42, from Ekdala Dakshinpara village in Tebaria union of Natore Sadar upazila. He had left home about 10 years ago and become accustomed to a vagrant life.
According to police and local sources, Fazer Ali and Sonaban Bibi were serving food to students of the madrasa hostel after cooking on Friday afternoon when Sentu arrived and asked for food. Angered at being refused, he struck Fazer Ali repeatedly on the head and neck with the wooden paddle lying nearby.
When Sonaban Bibi came forward to protect Fazer Ali, she was also beaten. Hearing their screams, people nearby rushed in and detained the man, and police arriving at the scene took him into custody.
OC Shafiqul Islam said Fazer Ali's body had been sent to the Rajbari Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy. Sentu's relatives have said he left home about 10 years ago and has mental health problems.
The OC added that initial findings indicate he attacked the cook and his assistant after not receiving food. Sentu is being treated at Goalanda Upazila Health Complex and will be sent to court once doctors discharge him.
