A Jubo Dal leader was beaten to death in the capital's Sakura Restaurant and Bar by its staff early yesterday.
However, the family of the deceased, Jony Ali, 35, a joint convener of ward no. 21 Juba Dal unit of Dhaka, claimed that he was murdered in a planned way by his rivals.
Jony was accused for the 2012 murder of ward level Jubo Dal leader Selim Shahi, a flower trader in Shahbagh, said Abul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station.
A total of 44 people, including the bar's staff, were detained, but the reason behind the killing was still unknown.
“In primary interrogation, the staffs said they beat Jony as he stole money from the bar's cash counter,” said the OC.
Hailing from Araihazar of Narayanganj, Jony used to live in his in-law's house in Sirajdikhan of Munshiganj with his two daughters and wife.
Marjina Begum, wife of Jony, said, “My husband used to sell flowers in Shahbagh. I know nothing more.”
In early yesterday, some people beat Jony inside and outside the bar. Police rescued him unconscious around 12:10am and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead. The bar was closed yesterday with police guarding the area.