A day before Sheikh Hasina's government collapsed, the southwestern district of Magura in Bangladesh experienced a violent day marked by the deaths of at least two protesters and injuries to at least 16 others from gunfire.

The violence was orchestrated by Khandaker Mashroor Reza, also known as Kutil, who is better recognized as the father of Shakib Al Hasan, the member of parliament for Magura-1 and a former captain of the Bangladesh cricket team.

Kutil had taken over Shakib's political responsibilities during his son's absence, especially leading up to the controversial January 2024 elections.

On the morning of August 4, Awami League leaders and activists carried out a coordinated assault on students along the Dhaka-Khulna highway near Dhaka Road.

Kutil led this attack, supported by several other pro-Shakib Awami League members. These revelations were uncovered in a thorough investigation by Bangla Outlook.

The investigation revealed that within just three hours, two people were killed in Magura: Mehdi Hasan Rabbi (32), the Senior Joint General Secretary of the district student wing of the BNP, and Farhad Hossain (21), a Chittagong University student.

Both were shot near the old Parnanduali bridge close to Dhaka Road. Rabbi was shot around 11:15 AM and later succumbed to his injuries, while Farhad was killed between 1:46 PM and 2:00 PM.

To date, no cases have been filed against Shakib or his father concerning these two deaths or the injuries sustained by over three dozen students and members of the public in Magura.

BNP activists claim that Shakib's relatives hold influential positions within the district BNP, and these senior leaders have intentionally blocked any legal actions against the Shakib family.

On October 20, Bangla Outlook visited Shakib's house in Magura but found no family members there.

Relatives indicated that after Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, Shakib's father and other family members also left the country, although their current locations remain unknown.

What happened on that day?

A journalist who witnessed the events reported to Bangla Outlook that he saw Shakib's father, Mashrur Reza Kutil, arrive in a large convoy in front of the Magura Sadar Police Station shortly before 11 AM.

When journalists attempted to capture photos of the armed individuals from a distance, they were threatened with sharp weapons.

One eyewitness recounted, "They were armed with sharp weapons, machetes, and firearms. We managed to take some photos, but a few of them charged at us with their weapons."

The eyewitness provided a video recorded during that time to Bangla Outlook. The video's metadata indicates it was filmed on August 4 at approximately 11 AM.

In the video, Shakib's father stands with armed leaders and supporters of the pro-Shakib Awami League and its affiliated organizations in front of a market near the police station. They later proceeded toward Dhaka Road.

Bangla Outlook's investigation found out that it takes approximately eight minutes to walk briskly from the Magura Sadar Police Station to the shooting site on Dhaka Road.

Shortly after reaching the area, student leader Rabbi was shot, with at least three eyewitnesses confirming he was shot at 11:15 AM.

Nearby, on Dhaka Road, is the residence of former MP Saifuzzaman Shikhar from Magura-1. However, his relatives confirmed that he was not in Magura that day, although armed supporters were present to secure his home.

On that morning, Shakib's father was seen with Shakib Hasan Tuhin, co-convener of the district Jubo League.

Among Tuhin's "shooters" was student leader Shisir Adhikari. Eyewitnesses reported that, in addition to Shisir, other student leaders, particularly Hamidul Islam, also fired shots that day.

A member of the municipal Jubo League who was present with the Awami League on Dhaka Road on August 4 stated, "Although Tuhin and others were previously affiliated with another group, they gained recognition as pro-Shakib after the election."

Family members of Chhatra Dal leader Rabbi noted that he had not returned home the night before the incident to avoid arrest.

A police officer also informed Bangla Outlook that they had attempted to detain Rabbi late on the night of August 3 but left when they could not locate him.

Shafiqul Islam, a Chhatra Dal leader and coordinator of the student movement, was with Rabbi just before he was shot.

He explained that they had been ramping up the student protests since the morning.

At one point, when a group of students surrounded some policemen, Shafiqul stepped in to speak with the officers and helped ensure their safe exit.

He recounted that, at that moment, the students were attacked from another direction. Shafiqul sustained minor injuries during the assault, received first aid, and then returned to the protest.

"I saw some people carrying the injured Rabbi bhai away," he said. "I didn’t realize at the time that Rabbi bhai would die. As he was being taken away, he told me, 'Don’t leave the streets under any circumstances.'"

Rabbi's nephew, school student Riazul Islam, told Bangla Outlook that he was present with his uncle during the incident. Referring to footage of the event, Riazul said, "I saw my uncle move quickly to the front of the protest.

He took off his helmet and held it in his hand. But shortly after, he was shot. I backed away when I heard the gunfire, and later I saw that my uncle had been injured."

After being shot, Rabbi was transported by motorcycle to Magura Sadar Hospital, where he was pronounced dead some time later.

His body was then taken in a procession to Bhayna Mor in the city. Following this, student and public protests intensified, as noted by Abdur Rahim, then president of the district Chhatra Dal.

Another murder within hours

Within hours of Rabbi's murder, Chattogram University student Farhad Hossain was also shot dead by armed supporters of the then-government. After the university declared a holiday on July 17, he returned home to Magura.

His uncle, Yunus Ali, recounted to Bangla Outlook, "I last spoke to him at 1:46 PM. He mentioned he would be home after performing the Zuhr prayer."

On that day, student leader Shyamal was present as a protester when ruling party activists opened fire.

He recalled, "I could see clearly that student leader Shisir Adhikari was aiming his firearm at us, concealed under cloth. Others were also pointing their weapons. Farhad was right next to me, and I didn’t know him at the time.”

“I warned him, saying, 'Why are you here? Go back!' As Shisir got ready to shoot, I tried to move away quickly. In the process, I bumped into Farhad, and he ducked down. The bullet struck him in the back of the head."

He added, "As the shooting continued from the other side, I tried to protect myself while leaving Farhad, who was injured. He was later taken to a local mosque."

Mohammad Jaied Bin Rahman, a younger brother from Farhad's village who witnessed the incident, reported that they set out with Farhad and five others from Raynagar village between 9 and 9:30 AM to join the protest.

After evading police and surveillance from student party members, they arrived at the site by 11 AM to participate in the movement.

Analysis of videos from that time reveals that Farhad was taken to the grounds of the nearby Biyapari Para Jame Mosque before being transported to Magura Sadar Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

His mother confirmed that no case has been filed by the family. "I have sought justice from Allah," she stated.

However, a protester named Jamal Hossain has filed a case naming 69 individuals, including former Magura-1 MP Saifuzzaman Shikhar and recently former Magura-2 MP Biren Shikdar.

The police indicated that Biren Shikdar was present near the scene on that day.

The family of the student leader Rabbi has also filed a case. The plaintiff, Yunus Ali, noted that while there were calls to file cases against many individuals, he chose to name only a select few.

His case includes 13 names, among them Saifuzzaman Shikhar and Biren Shikdar, but neither Shakib nor any of his family members are mentioned.

No mentioning of Shakib’s father

Conversations with eyewitnesses and relevant sources confirm that the aggressive actions of approximately a hundred armed militants led by Shakib's father contributed to the deaths of two individuals and injuries to at least 35 others in Magura city, just a day before the government’s downfall.

An eyewitness from the Awami League told Bangla Outlook, "From that morning, both sides faced off near the Paranandu Bridge area on the Dhaka-Khulna highway. The protesters were on one side, while the police and our group were on the other. After nearly three hours of pursuit and counter-pursuit, we were forced to withdraw."

He added, "We took our positions beside Shikhar's house and in front of the district Awami League office at Jamrultala. Around 11 AM, a group led by Shakib's father, Kutil, including municipal commissioner Tuhin, joined us, armed. At that moment, we, along with the police, launched another attack."

The Awami League leader conceded that if Shakib's father's armed group hadn't launched a second assault on the protesters, the casualties could have been avoided.

Mohsin Uddin, the director of the 350-bed Magura Hospital, reported, "On that day, 25 injured individuals were admitted to the hospital, with many others receiving first aid. Rabbi suffered bullet wounds to his chest and abdomen, while Farhad was shot in the head."

Reports indicate that to suppress the protests, a significant stockpile of local and firearms was amassed at Saifuzzaman Shikhar's house near Dhaka Road, where party members gathered.

Armed individuals from that house, accompanied by police, initiated the attack in the Paranandu Bridge area.

At that time, one of the guards stationed at Shikhar's residence bragged, "We defended Shikhar Bhai's house with 17 machine guns. We had at least 35-40 weapons with us, and the police were alongside us.”

“We cornered the protesters in their homes and opened fire. But when news broke that Apa (Sheikh Hasina) was fleeing the country, we withdrew from the scene. We retreated with the police to save our own lives."

Eyewitnesses reported that before the armed assault on protesters in the Paranandu Bridge area, Shakib's father, Kutial, gathered a group of armed militants around 10 AM near Shakib Al Hasan's residence in the Keshabmore area of the city.

This assembly included 90 to 100 individuals, all armed with local and firearms. Witnesses noted at least 14 to 15 people carrying firearms as Kutial and Commissioner Tuhin led the armed group toward the Paranandu Bridge, practicing their movements along the way.

Among them, 10 to 12 individuals were seen wearing helmets. Around 11 AM, the armed group conferred about their attack strategy near the entrance of the Sadar Police Station.

During this time, many curious bystanders attempted to take photos from nearby buildings, prompting the militants to threaten them and prepare to open fire.

Eyewitnesses indicated that several identified militants from various parts of the city were part of the procession, although most hailed from the Nijnanduwali area.

Controversy surrounding Shakib and family

Attempts to reach Shakib Al Hasan and his father's WhatsApp number on October 26 did not elicit any response by the time this report was compiled.

Efforts to contact Saifuzzaman Shikhar through family members regarding the shooting on August 4 have been unsuccessful.

While many people were losing their lives in student protests across Bangladesh, a screenshot went viral showing Shakib Al Hasan in Canada with his children, accompanied by a caption that read, "A well spent day in Toronto."

Amid significant controversy, on October 9, Shakib shared a message on his verified Facebook page: "...I extend my deepest respects and condolences to those who have been martyred and injured in the student uprising against inequality, along with their families. The loss endured by families who have lost loved ones cannot be replaced. The pain of losing a child or brother is irreplaceable."

"In this challenging time, I sincerely apologize for my absence and for any distress you may have experienced. If I were in your position, I would likely feel the same disappointment. I served as a Member of Parliament for Magura-1 for only a brief period. My motivation for entering politics was primarily to contribute to the development of my birthplace and the people of Magura. As you know, in Bangladesh's context, it can be quite challenging to directly influence the development of one's area without specific responsibilities. This aspiration to improve my community is what drove my interest in becoming a Member of Parliament."

Magura's Additional Superintendent of Police, Kalimulllah, stated that no arrests have been made in connection with the two cases thus far.

He confirmed that no one was killed by police gunfire in Magura city on that day. He added, "It is still unclear what type of weapons were used in the deaths of the two victims. An investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being made to apprehend the suspects."

How Shakib’s family gained control of Magura

For over fifteen years, Magura has been under the control of Saifuzzaman Shikhar, the former MP and assistant private secretary to the authoritarian leader Sheikh Hasina.

It’s rumored that during Hasina's reign, nothing would happen in Magura without his approval. However, Shikhar's entanglements in various corrupt practices eventually made him a target for Hasina, leading to his loss of the party nomination for the Magura-1 constituency.

This created an opportunity for the cunning cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, who won the MP position for Magura-1 in a voterless, rigged election.

With Shakib’s election, a power shift began. Suddenly, Shakib’s father, Mashrur Reza Kutial, became a significant figure.

He started roaming the city with armed groups and established an office near his home in Keshabmore, branding it the "MP's Office." Additionally, a former footballer and Shakib’s cousin gained prominence during this time.

As the power dynamics changed, Kutial and Shakib’s cousin became active in seizing control over various contracts, recruitments, and committee formations across institutions—roles previously held by Shikhar and his associates.

A district Awami League leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, remarked, "Shakib, his father, and his cousin are newcomers to our ranks.

They’ve never been involved in Awami League politics and, in fact, have shown anti-Awami sentiments. After Shakib became an MP, Kutial and his cousin formed a gang of thugs to feign loyalty to the Awami League and usurp Shikhar’s authority."

The Awami League leader further stated, "We are committed members of the Awami League and haven’t taken to the streets armed. We’ve mobilized our youth instead. However, Shakib’s father primarily showcases his allegiance to the Awami League by wielding power and confronting protesters with weapons."

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