Youth killed over loan dispute in Pirojpur

A young man was killed in an attack over a dispute concerning unpaid debt at Mathbaria upazila in Pirojpur district on Friday.

The victim Rafiqul Islam Rabbi, 20, a resident of Gulishakhali village and son of late Chan Talukder, succumbed to his injuries on Friday night at 8 PM while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka.

According to local sources and the police, the incident took began on Thursday evening when Ferdous Rahman Babu, the victim's uncle, approached his neighbor and former Gulishakhali Union Parishad member Yusuf Hawlader to collect the money owed to him. This led to a heated argument between them. 

Following the argument, Yusuf along with his nephew Monir and their associates, launched an attack at Gulishakhali Stand around 8 PM that night. During the attack, Babu's son, Bayzid Ahmed Joy, 22, a university student, and his nephew, Rafiqul Islam Rabbi, 20, were severely injured.

The injured were rushed to the Upazila Health Complex, but as their condition deteriorated, they were transferred to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital later that night. 
Rabbi, who was in critical condition, was then sent to Dhaka's Green Life Hospital, where he passed away on Friday night at 8 PM.

Mathbaria Police Station officer-in-charge Rezaul Karim Rajib said Ferdous Rahman Babu filed a case on Thursday night, naming former UP member Yusuf as the main accused, along with 16 others and five unidentified individuals.

"With Rabbi's death, the case will now be reclassified as a murder case. On Friday night, police arrested two suspects, Rabbi, 24, and Sabuj, 28, in connection with the murder," added the OC.