OUR CORRESPONDENT, Faridpur

Police have arrested two more people in connection with the murder of Rasel Molla, 27, and the large-scale vandalism at the shrine of Nurul Haque, widely known as “Nural Pagla”, in Rajbari’s Goalanda upazila.

The arrestees are Shanto Kazi, 19, of Goalanda municipality, and Mohammad Anisur Rahman, 30, of Faridpur’s Saltha. Both were arrested on Tuesday night.

“A total of 20 people have now been held in the two cases so far. The accused are being identified through video footage, and the latest arrestees will be produced before the court,” said Md Sharif Al Rajib, additional superintendent of police (Crime and Ops) in Rajbari.

On Monday, Rasel’s father Azad Molla filed a case with Goalanda Ghat Police Station against 3,500-4,000 unidentified people, accusing them of murder, arson, looting, vandalism, and assault during Friday’s attack on the shrine.

The case statement said Rasel and some others were inside the shrine after Juma prayers when a protest rally, organised under the banner of “Imaan-Aqida Rokkha Committee”, marched from Goalanda Bazar Ansar Club and stormed the shrine around 3:00pm. At least 15-20 attackers scaled the wall and hacked Rasel, his younger brother Sajjad, and niece Rahela Akhter near the main gate. Around 50 others were also beaten and injured.

Locals rescued the wounded and took them to Goalanda Upazila Health Complex, where Rasel was again attacked. He was later referred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.