February 5, 2026
DHAKA – Losing a loved one is never easy. It is, in fact, among the most difficult experiences any of us will invariably go through in life. And the loss takes on an entirely different meaning when it comes not through natural causes but through violence driven by malicious intent.
Yet, not all murders are treated equally in the eyes of the state. Some appear to carry greater weight than others, perhaps for reasons tied to a larger, unseen calculus.
For certain families, the killing of their loved one may bring unexpected fortune in the form of compensation: money, accommodation, or job opportunities.
For others, such losses bring only a never-ending nightmare. Alongside grief, they are left to endure financial hardship, a shaken morale, an uncertain future, and, in some cases that are far from rare, being forced to live under fear and intimidation.
It has been only around six months since Maloti Rani Robidas lost her husband, Ruplal Robidas, 40, and a close relative, Pradeep Lal Robidas, 35, in a mob attack in Rangpur’s Taraganj upazila on August 9 last year.
Suffice it to say, her grief remains fresh, and she is still struggling to come to terms with the loss. Peace, however, still seems out of her reach.
Men accused in the mob attack — including one recently released on bail — have been threatening her family, pressuring them to withdraw the case, according to a complaint Maloti filed with Taraganj police station on January 23.
In the complaint, she said that Rubel Paikar, 30, after securing bail recently, threatened her and her son Joy at Taraganj bazar on January 22, demanding the case be withdrawn.
Another accused, Sohag Islam, who was never arrested, has also been intimidating the family, she added in the complaint.
“If police and administration cannot ensure our safety, it will be impossible for us to stay in the area,” she told this newspaper at the time.
Contacted by this newspaper, Rubel denied the allegations, calling them “fabricated,” and claimed he does not know the family. Meanwhile, Sohag could not be reached for comment despite repeated phone calls.
Video analysis by Prothom Alo had confirmed that at least seven attackers were clearly identified in the footage, including Rubel and Sohag.
On February 2, Taraganj police station Officer-in-Charge Ruhul Amin told The Daily Star that the complaint filed by Maloti Rani has been sent to court, seeking necessary direction.
On the same day, Maloti Rani told this newspaper that since she filed the complaint, she has not received any more threats, and that the police have assured her of assistance.
“Still, I can’t help but worry about the safety of my family all the time,” she said.
It is a troubling system, to say the least: when a grieving husband and father is denied temporary parole to attend the funeral of his wife and infant son, while men accused of participating in a deadly mob attack are granted bail, free to roam and issue threats.
In this system, the lives of certain individuals are safeguarded with personal firearms and dedicated personnel to carry them, and others are subjected to a neglect so severe that it leaves them defenceless against the whims of their oppressors.
For Ruplal’s widow and children, the pursuit of justice has turned into a struggle for survival. Instead of living a life free of fear, they face intimidation in public spaces, with accused individuals openly threatening them to withdraw the case.
This not only deepens their trauma but also sends a chilling message to other victims’ families: seeking justice can make you a target. In communities where mob violence has already sown seeds of fear and insecurity, such intimidation risks silencing voices before they can even reach the courtroom.