Amid sharp rise in violence against minorities in Bangladesh, a Hindu man died in the northeastern district of Sunamganj on Thursday.
Identified as Joy Mahapatra, 19, the man was allegedly thrashed over an unpaid 500 takas instalment, according to family members quoted by Bangladeshi media.
Humiliated by this, Mohapatra consumed poison. He was immediatedly taken to Dirai Upazila Health Complex but when his condition worsened, he was referred to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. He later died in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Mohapatra had bought a mobile phone for 5,500 takas from grocery shop owner Amirul Islam from Borhanpur, reported Sylhet Daily. Joy paid 2,000 takas upfront and agreed to pay the remaining amount in weekly instalments of 500 takas.
According to his family members, Mohapatra paid all the instalments on time except the last one, which got delayed.
Mohapatra's cousin Ayan Das alleged that the victim went to Amirul's shop to pay the delayed instalment. However, Amirul beat him up and took his mobile phone away. According to his family, Joy, who felt humiliated, allegedly bought rat poison from the same shop and consumed poison around 7.30 pm.
Amirul has denied the allegations of Mohapatra's family members, claiming that Mohapatra owed him 2,500 takas for the mobile phone and 300 takas for flexiload. He alleged that he seized the phone because Mohapatra failed to pay the instalment. He also dismissed allegations about selling poison, claiming that Mohapatra left after he was told that poison was not available at the shop.
Conflicting reports in other media alleged that Mohapatra was beaten and poisoned. But THE WEEK could not independently verify these claims.