Burned after stabbing, Damudya trader Khokan dies finally

Khokan Das, a medicine trader who was stabbed and then set on fire in Damudya of Shariatpur, died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Saturday morning.

Hospital sources said Khokan, 55, died at the DMCH burn unit around 8:00am after battling severe injuries for three days.

According to police and local residents, Khokan Das ran a medicine shop and also worked as a bKash agent at Keurbhanga Bazar under Koneshwar union. On Wednesday night, while returning home after closing his shop, he was intercepted by three to four assailants. They stabbed him with sharp weapons and robbed him of cash.

Police said that when Khokan recognised the attackers, they poured petrol on his body and set him on fire in an attempt to kill him. Hearing his screams, locals rushed to the spot, prompting the attackers to flee. Khokan was initially taken to a local hospital before being shifted to DMCH in critical condition, where he later underwent surgery.

Following the attack, Khokan’s father Paresh Chandra Das filed a case at Damudya Police Station late Thursday night, naming Sohag Khan, 27, Rabbi Molla, 21, and Palash Sardar, 25, all residents of the Koneshwar area.

Officer-in-Charge of Damudya Police Station Md Robiul Haque confirmed Khokan’s death and said police were continuing their investigation. “No arrests have been made yet, but efforts are underway to bring the accused to justice,” he said.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Tanvir Hossain said law enforcers had learned of the death from the victim’s family and were treating the case with utmost seriousness.

Demanding swift and exemplary punishment, Advocate Amit Ghatak Chowdhury, president of the Shariatpur district unit of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, said the killing had shocked the local community. “We are deeply saddened by Khokan Das’s death. Such brutal crimes must not go unpunished,” he said.

Relatives and locals have also demanded the immediate arrest of those involved, calling the attack a horrific act that has shaken the area.