Prime accused in Shamim killing case arrested

KHULNA, Oct 19: The Special Response Battalion (SRB-6) has arrested Fazlul Haque Amini, 45, the prime accused in the lynching death of Wahiduzzaman Shamim in Debhata Upazila of Satkhira District following allegations of religious offence.

Acting on a tip, an SRB-6 team from its Satkhira camp arrested Amini, son of Qari Ruhul Amin of Dakkhin Parulia Village in Debhata, from the Bishnupur area of Kaliganj Upazila around 11 pm on Saturday, according to an SRB-6 press release issued on Sunday.

According to the press release, an audio recording of a conversation between Shamim, 38, and his wife circulated on Facebook on October 12. Allegations that the recording contained derogatory remarks about religion sparked tension in the area. 

On the afternoon of October 13, a group of people allegedly dragged Shamim from a rural doctor’s chamber at a local market and beat him. Police rescued him and took him to the upazila health complex. 

A procession allegedly led by Amini at about 8:30 pm that day attacked the hospital. The attackers took Shamim away and beat him again. He died on the way to Satkhira Medical College Hospital.

Shamim’s elder brother, Abdul Jalil, later filed a murder case with Debhata Police Station, naming 10 people and accusing 200 to 250 unidentified others. Amini was listed as the first accused.