Man, held in chains amid a land dispute, found dead in a river

Osman Gani (30) was kept shackled with iron chains around his waist and legs, following a dispute over inherited land. After being held in this condition for about 15 days, he jumped into the Shitalakshya River on Saturday and went missing. Following a day-long search, a Fire Service diving team recovered his body from the Shitalakshya River in Kaliganj, Gazipur, on Sunday afternoon (November 15).

Police stated that the iron chains were still fastened around his waist and legs when the body was recovered.

The deceased, Osman Gani, was the son of the late Matin Mia from Bashair village in the Bahadurshadi Union of Kaliganj Upazila. Both of his parents are deceased.

According to local residents, Osman inherited a portion of land, and he was subjected to abuse by those attempting to seize and misappropriate it. About 15 days prior, his uncle-in-law (his aunt’s husband), Babul Hossain, had shackled his waist and legs.

Local sources reported that on Saturday afternoon, an individual acting on behalf of Babul Hossain chased Osman with a stick. Fearing for his safety, Osman jumped into the Shitalakshya River and subsequently went missing. The incident was later reported to the Fire Service by local residents.

Babul Hossain did not deny these allegations but offered a different explanation. He claimed that Osman, a close relative and the son of his brother-in-law, suffered from mental instability and frequently disturbed people in the area. He asserted that Osman was shackled to prevent this, and that he would flee whenever attempts were made to take him to a hospital. Babul Hossain further claimed that there is documentation from a psychiatric hospital regarding Osman’s mental health condition.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Shamim Sheikh of Kaliganj Police Station confirmed that Osman’s waist and legs were bound with iron chains. The police are aware of the allegations leveled against his uncle-in-law by the local community, and the matter is currently under investigation.

Inspector (Operations) Md. Iqbal Hossain of Kaliganj Police Station stated that the body is being sent to the Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital for an autopsy. Further legal action regarding the incident is underway.

-    RS/NS