Amid the ongoing violence in Bangladesh, a violent mob lynched actor Shanto Khan and his father producer-director Selim Khan on 5th August. The latter was also the Chairman of Lakshmipur Model Union Parishad of Chandpur Sadar Upazila. They attempted to escape the area by going to the Farrukhabad market in the Balia Union. They were ambushed by individuals there but were able to flee by using their pistols to fire shots and disperse the crowd. They later encountered another group in the Bagara market region and were brutally beaten after which the pair succumbed to their wounds.
“We have come to know about their death. We could not go there because of the safety of our lives,” according to officer-in-charge of Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station Md Sheikh Mohsin Alam. “In Chandpur, Selim Khan, chairman of Lakshmipur Union Parishad, and his son Shanto Khan, an actor, were beaten to death. As the news of Hasina’s resignation spread, Selim and his son fled his village and went to Farakkabad Bazar of Balia Union. When people tried to stop them, they managed to flee by opening fire. When they reached the nearby Bagarabazar area, an angry mob caught and killed them. Chandpur Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Mohsin Alam confirmed the matter,” reported Daily Star.
Selim Khan was the owner and director of Shapla Media, which has made several well-known movies, including “Shahenshah” and “Bidrohi,” that starred Dhallywood actor Shakib Khan, among others. He even directed the movie “Tungi Parar Miya Bhai,” which was inspired by many events, including the early years, adolescence and youth of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founder of the nation and the father of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. His son Shanto Khan’s acting career began with the venture and he went on to appear in multiple projects produced by his father. Selim Khan had about ten films at various stages of production, featuring many well-known Tollywood actors.
Selim Khan was accused of corruption and collecting sand illegally from the Padma-Meghna river at the Chandpur maritime border. He was also imprisoned for the same. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) initiated legal proceedings against Shanto Khan in July of this year regarding acquisition of illegal wealth. This is the first known murder in the nation of an actor who portrayed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on screen.
On that fatal afternoon, Selim Khan had even spoken with Arindam Das, the Tollywood executive producer with whom he had collaborated on his projects in Kolkata. “I had spoken to Selim bhai on Monday. Just a few hours later, Shamim Ahmed Rony, director of ‘Commando’ called me from the United States, inquiring if I had received any news. He said his hands were trembling after hearing a distressing news about Selim bhai. When I checked, what I discovered left me numb.”
Actor and Lok Sabha MP Deepak Adhikari, known by his stage name Dev, talked to the media in Delhi and expressed, “I had been to Bangladesh several times and floored by the hospitality of the people there. The news of deaths is upsetting. I hope this phase will end and Bangladesh will be back on tracks soon.” Actor-turned-politician Bonny Sengupta conveyed, “This is shocking. I had completed one of his Bangladeshi productions titled ‘Production No. 1’.” Shanto Khan’s passing had a profound impact on actor Kaushani Mukhopadhyay, who co-starred with him in the Bangladeshi movie Piya Re. “I can’t believe he is no more. Shanto was very respectful and had ambitions to make a significant impact in the industry,” she recalled.
The violence that has engulfed Bangladesh over the last two months in the name of anti-quota protests has only intensified recently due to which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and departed from the nation. The country would now be run by an “interim government” imposed by the army.
