A college student was allegedly murdered after being thrown from the rooftop of a four-story dormitory in Kushtia town last night (1 October).
Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle), Abu Russell, confirmed the matter.
The deceased has been identified as Rubel Hossain, 22, son of Shahidul Islam from Mirzapur village in Kumarkhali upazila. Rubel was a sixth-semester student in the Power Department at Kushtia Polytechnic Institute.
He used to live on the third floor of a four-storey building in the Courtpara area of Kushtia.
According to police, locals found Rubel with his hands and feet tied with a white rope and his mouth covered with a red piece of cloth. Later, he was rushed to Kushtia General Hospital.
Additional Superintendent of Police Abu Russell said the case is under investigation, and legal action will be taken against those involved.
As his condition worsened, he was referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries on the way at around 12:30am, said doctors.
Dr Mithun Chakraborty, an on-duty physician at Kushtia General Hospital, said that Rubel was admitted at around 11pm in critical condition with head injuries.
Anisur Rahman, a fellow student at the hostel who took Rubel to the hospital, said that they lived on the third floor with nine others across three rooms, with Rubel sharing a room with two others. Around 10:30 pm, they heard shouting from Rubel’s room and rushed downstairs to find him tied up and lying on the ground. With the help of locals, they took him to the hospital.
Rubel had seemed worried since the afternoon. In the evening, they had discussed the expenses for the hostel, but he had no idea how the incident occurred or who was responsible, Anisur added.
Kamrul Hasan Shuvo, a witness, reported that when he arrived at the hostel around 12:30 am, the police were questioning Rubel’s roommates, Hridoy and Raisul, along with others.
Local residents demanded a thorough investigation and exemplary punishment for the culprits.
Another local, Mahim, said the rooftop of the building is usually kept locked, with only the owner and one student having access to the key.
Mahim believes the police will uncover more details through questioning.
