A disturbing video showing the brutal torture of two 15-year-old minors, accused of setting fire to a shop in Patuakhali’s Bauphal upazila, has gone viral, sparking widespread outrage. The incident occurred around 2:30 AM on Saturday (August 9) in the Bogir Khal Tulatala area.The video shows several individuals tying the two minors to a shop post with their hands bound behind their backs and beating them with sticks. The assailants can be heard interrogating the minors, asking, “Who sent you to set the fire? How much money were you paid? Five thousand taka? Who sent you? How much did you take? Did you bring kerosene? Who’s the one in the red shirt? Where did you hide the kerosene bottle?” Under duress, the minors eventually confess to setting the fire.
According to local sources, a fire broke out around 1:00 AM on Saturday at a grocery and tea shop owned by Mahbub (45) due to an electrical meter explosion. Hearing Mahbub’s cries, locals rushed to the scene and brought the fire under control. After the situation was handled, most people left. Later, Mahbub and his associates detained two minors from the nearby Shaula Karpurkathi area, tied them to a shop post, and subjected them to severe torture. A video of the beating and coerced confession was recorded. Following a tip-off, Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Ibrahim Mollah from Bauphal Police Station arrived at the scene and took the minors to the station.
Some locals alleged that the police detained the minors without providing medical treatment and held them from Saturday night until 10:00 PM on Sunday. Mahbub claimed, “I live behind the shop. I heard the meter explode and saw the fire. The meter was wrapped in cloth soaked with kerosene, and I found a kerosene bottle nearby. Shortly after, the two minors were passing by. When questioned, they admitted to setting the fire and also confessed to the police.”
An anonymous local businessman stated, “Around 1:00 AM, Mahbub’s screams woke me up. I saw the fire at the meter and helped put it out. I later heard about the torture of the minors.” SI Md. Ibrahim Mollah said, “We are still investigating the fire and whether the minors are innocent. We brought them to the station around 4:00 AM.”
Bauphal Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman Sarker clarified, “No evidence of arson has been found. The minors have been released to their relatives.”
