STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Photojournalist Kabir Hossain, chief photographer of Prothom Alo’s feature department, was hacked and his younger brother beaten in an attack in Sirajdikhan upazila of Munshiganj yesterday.

The incident took place around 12:30pm in Dosorpara village under Lotabdi Union.

Kabir alleged that the attack was led by Jahangir Madbor, president of BNP’s Ward 7 unit in Lotabdi Union. The family has filed a complaint with police, who have already detained Jahangir.

Kabir, 45, is the son of late Malek Madbor of Dosorpara. His injured younger brother, Takbir Hossain, is 44.

According to family members and eyewitnesses, Kabir’s family runs a Lalon shrine (akhra) in Dosorpara. Since the fall of the Awami League government, BNP leader Jahangir Madbor and Alauddin Madbor, president of the local Jubo League unit, had allegedly been trying to seize the shrine and its land to establish a brick kiln. They had repeatedly threatened Kabir over the issue.

Yesterday afternoon, while Kabir was working on the shrine’s boundary fence, Jahangir Madbor, his son Touhid Madbor, Jahed Madbor, Alauddin Madbor, Shahriar Madbor, Ahmed Madbor, and several others allegedly attacked him.

During the assault, Kabir was struck on the head with a sharp weapon. When Takbir tried to intervene, he was also attacked.

The injured brothers were taken to Sirajdikhan Upazila Health Complex. Kabir was later referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Asked about the attack, Sirajdikhan upazila BNP General Secretary M Haidar Ali told Prothom Alo, “The perpetrator will not be spared under any circumstances. Organisational action will be taken against him.”

Sirajdikhan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Hannan said, “We have already detained the main accused, Jahangir. Efforts are underway to arrest those involved.”