A 40-year-old Hindu man was killed on Monday evening after being shot by a colleague inside a garment factory in Bangladesh, in what police have described as an apparent accidental firing.
The incident took place at Sultana Sweaters Limited which is located in the Mehrabari area of Bhaluka upazila in Mymensingh.
The victim, Bajendra Biswas, was an Ansar member deployed for factory security. He was the son of Pobitra Biswas and hailed from Kadirpur village in Sylhet Sadar. Police said the alleged shooter, Noman Mia, 22, another Ansar member, has been arrested. He is the son of Lutfur Rahman and a resident of Baluturi Bazar in Taherpur area of Sunamganj.
In Bangladesh, Ansar refers to the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (Ansar-VDP), a uniformed auxiliary force. Ansar personnel are commonly deployed to provide security at factories, banks, elections and government installations and may be armed in sensitive locations.
According to eyewitnesses, around 20 Ansar personnel were on duty at the factory at the time of the incident. Bajendra Biswas and Noman Mia were reportedly sitting together inside the premises when a shotgun in Noman’s possession discharged accidentally. The bullet hit Biswas in the left thigh, causing severe injuries and heavy bleeding.
Factory colleagues immediately rushed Bajendra Biswas to the Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Confirming the incident, Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Islam of Bhaluka Model Police Station said that police reached the scene promptly and arrested the accused. The victim’s body has been sent to the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.
Police said legal proceedings are underway and investigators are examining whether the shooting was purely accidental or if any other factors contributed to the incident. Authorities have assured that the case is being investigated with utmost seriousness and have urged witnesses to cooperate with the probe.