Youngest brother tragically killed in property boundaries dispute

A tragic incident unfolded over a minor boundary dispute at the ancestral homestead where six brothers had spent their childhood and adolescence together. In Barhatta Upazila, Netrokona, 35-year-old Saikul Islam lost his life after being struck with a stick by his elder brother during a dispute over property boundaries. The violent confrontation between the brothers also left the victim’s wife and his 15-year-old daughter injured.

Saikul passed away at 4:30 AM on Monday (November 2) while undergoing treatment at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH). The incident occurred the previous afternoon, Sunday, in Chandrapur village, located in the Upazila’s Singdha Union. The deceased, Saikul Islam, was the son of the late Abdul Khalek, a resident of the same village.

According to local residents and the police, of the late Abdul Khalek’s six sons, three live in Dhaka for work, one resides abroad, and another lives in the town of Barhatta. Only the youngest, Saikul Islam, remained at the ancestral home, managing the family land and earning a living through farming. A few days ago, the eldest brother, Saidur Rahman, arrived at the village home from Dhaka, where he works, accompanied by his wife and child. Upon his arrival, he sought to define the boundaries of his portion of the property and began plans to construct a wall.

On Sunday afternoon, a verbal altercation broke out between the two brothers regarding the boundary demarcation. As tensions escalated, Saidur Rahman, along with his wife and son, attacked Saikul using sticks. Saikul’s head was crushed by the indiscriminate blows from his elder brother’s stick, causing him to collapse to the ground. When Saikul’s wife and teenage daughter rushed to intervene and protect him, they too were severely beaten and sustained serious injuries.

Following their cries for help, neighbors arrived at the scene, rescued the three victims, who were covered in blood, and transported them to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. There, after a struggle for his life, Saikul succumbed to his injuries early in the morning. 

Meanwhile, the condition of his wife and daughter, who are undergoing treatment at the hospital, is reportedly showing some signs of improvement. Immediately following the incident, the accused, the elder brother, Saidur Rahman, fled the area along with his family.

Grief has struck the entire village of Chandrapur following this tragic and unexpected death. Nasim Talukdar, Chairman of the Singhda Union Parishad, expressed his deep regret, stating, "I went to the house as soon as I heard the news. Among the six brothers, Saikul was the only one who remained in the village and worked in agriculture. It is truly heartbreaking that a dispute over a minor boundary issue led to such violence and the loss of a precious life."

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Barhatta Police Station, Champak Dam, confirmed the incident and stated that the victim's body would be handed over to his family following an autopsy at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where the post-mortem examination will be conducted.

The OC further added that this afternoon (Monday), the victim's wife filed a written complaint at the police station against the elder brother, Saidur Rahman, as well as his wife and son. Police operations are currently underway to apprehend the absconding suspects and bring them to justice.

-    ASR/NS