Elderly man dies after assault

An elderly man died after being assaulted by his neighbours yesterday for protesting against loud music on the rooftop of their apartment, police and family sources said.

Victim Nazimul Haque, 65, was a former superintendent of the land ministry. He had heart conditions and recently had a bypass surgery, said his daughter Nafisa Nazneen Haque.

There was a rooftop bridal party of a relative of another tenant, Altaf Hossain, of the building in RK Mission Road on Thursday night.

“As the music got louder around 12:00am, my father was feeling sick and told them to stop it immediately,” she said.

Later, the victim's brother Nasimul Haque Nibir, a private bank official, went to request Altaf to stop the music. The two had an altercation, although Altaf later stopped the music, said Bashir Uddin, caretaker of the house.

Then around 11:30am yesterday, Altaf and his family members went to the victim's flat on the eighth floor to have a talk with Nibir. The victim's family asked them to go to the basement of the building, saying they will talk there.

An altercation broke out as soon as the two groups gathered and there was a lot of pushing, shoving and punching, said Bashir.

“At one point, Nazimul came down. But he too received some blows,” he added.

He was taken to a nearby hospital after he fell down, but doctors there declared him dead.

Four people, including Altaf, have been arrested over the incident, said Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Wari Police Station.

“The CCTV footage shows Nazimul Haque falling to the ground after receiving punches and blows from Altaf and his relatives,” he added.

Wari police said the victim's son filed a murder case with the police station against 10 people, including seven named.