Mysterious Death of US Expatriate’s Son in Dhaka: Protest Held in New York Demanding Fair Investigation

A human chain and protest rally were held in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York, demanding a fair and impartial investigation into the mysterious death of Shihab Uddin Malek Sagor, son of US-based businessman Abdul Malek.

The protest was jointly organized on September 24 by members of the Sandwip community in the United States and several social organizations. Speakers demanded that the actual circumstances surrounding Sagor’s death be uncovered and that the findings of the investigation be made public.

At the protest, Sagor’s uncle and US-based businessman Anwar Hossain CPA alleged that the death was not a case of ordinary suicide and claimed that it could have been a planned killing that was later made to appear as suicide. He called for a thorough investigation into the people who were present at the apartment at the time of the incident, as well as Sagor’s final communications and contacts.

Among those who spoke at the protest were Abdul Wadud, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sandwip Society USA; President Firoz Ahmed; Marine Captain Syed I Hossain; Dr. Hosnera Malek; and Lion Masud Rana Tapan, Secretary of the New York Bangladeshi American Lions Club.

The speakers urged the Bangladesh government to conduct an impartial investigation by examining the full autopsy report, digital evidence and other relevant circumstantial information. They also vowed to continue their movement until justice is secured.

Shihab Uddin Malek Sagor, 36, was the son of Abdul Malek, a US-based construction businessman and resident of Brooklyn. His ancestral home is in Sandwip, Chattogram.

According to information provided by the family, Sagor was involved in the restaurant business in Chattogram in 2018. He later moved to Dhaka and started a car business.

The family also alleged that Sagor became acquainted with a woman named Mahjabin Islam Riya and that the two later entered into a romantic relationship. The family claims that Riya allegedly became involved with Sagor with the intention of obtaining money from him and that she was involved in what they described as a “honey trap.” They further alleged that after Sagor proposed marriage, Riya delayed the matter and eventually declined, leading to a deterioration in their relationship.

According to the family, Sagor arrived in Dhaka on a flight at 10:05 a.m. on August 19. The family said he had also booked a return flight for 5:15 p.m. on August 21.

However, on August 20, police recovered his body hanging inside an apartment in the Bhatara police station area of Dhaka.