Local Correspondent; KUSHTIA – A self-proclaimed ‘Pir‘ (spiritual leader) was lynched and his shrine vandalized and set on fire in Kushtia’s Daulatpur Upazila on Saturday afternoon. The attack was reportedly triggered by allegations of blasphemy.
The incident occurred around 2:30 PM in Philipnagar village under Philipnagar Union. The deceased, identified as Shamim Reza, also known as Jahangir, was the son of the late Jecher Ali. Local sources stated that Shamim was a former teacher who had established a shrine in his locality after completing his studies in Dhaka.
Police Statement
Kushtia Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Jashim Uddin confirmed the incident at approximately 4:45 PM. According to the SP, a video containing offensive remarks about Islam had recently resurfaced on social media.
“The video is actually quite old, but its recent circulation sparked intense public outrage,” the SP explained. “Police attempted to rescue the man, but the mob significantly outnumbered the officers on-site. He was beaten and hacked to death before the situation could be brought under control.”
Background of the Victim
This was not the first time Shamim Reza faced such allegations. In May 2021, a case was filed against him at Daulatpur Police Station for hurting religious sentiments. He served jail time following that arrest. Locals alleged that after his release, he resumed the controversial activities that initially led to his imprisonment.
Current Situation
Tensions began simmering in the morning as news of his alleged comments regarding the Holy Quran spread. Despite the presence of police, the angry crowd stormed the shrine, ransacking the property and setting it ablaze.
SP Jashim Uddin added that a large contingent of law enforcement has been deployed to the area to maintain order. “The situation is currently stable. We are investigating who recirculated the old video to incite this violence,” he said.