A horrifying 20-second video, showing a young man tied between two poles and being beaten to death amid singing by assailants, has gone viral on social media, creating extreme anger among the people across the country.
The act of brutality, which took place on August 14, surfaced on Facebook on Saturday.
The victim was identified as Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, 24.
In the video, the young man, tied up beneath an overpass, is seen being attacked by a group of youths and singing around him. The location of the assault was confirmed as an area near Gate No 2 of Akhtaruzzaman Flyover in Chattogram.
On the night of the incident, Shahadat’s body was found in the Prabartak area of the city.
Despite the brutal killing, it wasn’t until a month later that the video brought the heinous crime to light, and the victim was officially identified by his family.
The victim, Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, hailed from Nadna village in Sonaimuri Upazila of Noakhali District. He had been living in the BRTC area of Kotwali police precinct in Chattogram, working at a fruit shop to support his family.
On the fateful day of August 14, Shahadat left his home for work in the afternoon but never returned. His family grew concerned when his phone was found to be switched off, and his wife, Sharmin Akhtar, began searching for him after he failed to come home that night.
The following day, Shahadat’s uncle, Mohammad Harun, filed a case at the Panchlaish Police Station, reporting his nephew missing.
Initially, no details about the reasons for the murder or any potential disputes were mentioned. The case listed unnamed individuals as the defendants, as the identity of the attackers remained unknown.
It was only after the disturbing video went viral on social media that Shahadat's wife recognized her husband in the footage. With the video circulating widely, the police intensified their efforts to trace those involved in the attack.
Mohammad Solaiman, officer in charge of Panchlaish Police Station, confirmed that the case has taken a new turn following the video’s release. Shahadat’s family identified him in the footage, confirming that the person tied and beaten was indeed Shahadat.
The police are now working to identify the attackers seen in the video and bring them to justice, he added.
On August 14, police recovered Shahadat’s body near the shrine of Badna Shah Mia (RA) in Prabartak. The body was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Shahadat’s uncle and wife identified the body shortly after its recovery, but it was not until the video emerged that the full extent of the brutality he suffered became public.
As of now, no specific motive for the attack has been established, though authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Shahadat’s death.
