Kafrul brick attack: Biker dies after 13-day battle

A 21-year-old motorcyclist who was critically injured in a premeditated brick attack in the capital’s Kafrul area died on Monday (22 June) morning after battling for life for 13 days.

The deceased, Sajid Chowdhury Rafi, died at around 7am while undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Officer-in-Charge of Kafrul Police Station Md Sazzad Hossain said.

Rafi’s uncle, Md Nur Hossain Chowdhury, said he was initially taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital following the attack in the early hours of June 9. He was transferred to DMCH the following day, where he remained in the ICU for nearly two weeks before succumbing to his injuries.

According to police, the attack took place on Ibrahimpur Road, around 100 yards east of the Purba Shewrapara bus stand in Kafrul.

Rafi was returning home on his motorcycle when the attackers allegedly struck him on the right side of the head with a brick, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and crash onto the road.

The incident later went viral on social media, prompting the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to launch an extensive investigation using CCTV footage and information technology-based analysis.

The investigation identified four suspects: Md Parvez, Faisal alias Kalu, Anwar Hossain Babu and Amin. Police have so far arrested Parvez, Kalu and Babu, while efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspect.

Police said Parvez had previously lived as a tenant at Rafi’s house, and the two were acquainted. However, disputes later arose after Parvez and his associates allegedly became involved in drug dealing in the area.

Investigators said an argument broke out between Rafi and suspects Parvez and Kalu a day before the attack. The suspects allegedly threatened Rafi and later lay in wait for him in Purba Shewrapara.

When Rafi arrived on his motorcycle, Amin allegedly attempted to block his path. As he continued riding, Parvez is accused of striking him on the head with a brick.

Following the attack, the suspects allegedly tried to mislead local residents by claiming that a brick had accidentally fallen from above and injured Rafi. They then reportedly placed the injured motorcyclist in an auto-rickshaw, abandoned him in the Ibrahimpur area and fled the scene.