The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has come under heavy criticism after several of its youth wing members were accused of brutally murdering a scrap trader in Old Dhaka. In response, the BNP has formed a fact-finding committee and alleged that the incident is being politically exploited ahead of the national elections.

Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the murder was “a calculated attempt to disrupt the political environment.” He warned of a political agenda behind the public outrage, suggesting certain groups may be using the incident to malign the party.

The victim, 43-year-old Lal Chand Sohag, was allegedly beaten to death by Mahmudul Hasan Mohin, a Jubo Dal leader, and several others outside Mitford Hospital on July 9. The attackers reportedly stripped Sohag naked and assaulted him with stones, inflicting fatal head injuries. A video of the incident went viral, sparking public fury.

Sohag’s family claims he had been extorted for months by Mohin and others, who were collecting illegal money from vendors and traders near the hospital.

The ruling Awami League condemned the killing, calling it “grotesque and barbaric.” It accused the BNP of shielding its cadres and questioned the ability of the interim Yunus-led government to ensure justice, citing a broader pattern of impunity, political violence, and attacks on minorities since August 2024.

The BNP, however, remains defiant, accusing the government of trying to suppress opposition voices under the guise of law enforcement. The party said it would reveal the “real facts” through its internal investigation.