A Bangladeshi youth was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Zonkizizwe Township of Katlehong, Johannesburg, on Thursday night.

The deceased was identified as Sohan Hossain, 18, son of Md Dulal of Chikanmati village in Ranishankoil upazila of Thakurgaon.

Sohan’s paternal uncle, Sirajul Islam, who had taken him to South Africa about two months ago and employed him at his shop, said they were at the shop around 7:30pm local time when the power suddenly went out.

“At that time, two local men came to the shop and stood outside the iron grill. One asked for a candle and the other for a cigarette,” he told this correspondent over phone.

“As Sohan went to take money for the candle, and I moved to get the cigarette inside the shop, I suddenly heard several gunshots. I saw him lying on the floor,” he added.

“I called out to him repeatedly, but he did not respond. He died on the spot,” said Sirajul.

Sirajul added that he had started the business only two months ago and, as a newcomer in the area, had no known enmity with anyone.

Replying to a query, Sirajul said the autopsy was completed, and the hospital authorities provided them with the death certificate. After completing the procedure, the body would be taken back to Bangladesh.

Md Manik, the victim’s younger paternal uncle who lives in the village, told The Daily Star over the phone that Sohan had gone to South Africa two months ago in search of a better future, hoping to improve his family’s financial condition and his own life.

The family spent around Tk 8.5 lakh to send him abroad, arranging Tk 4 lakh by leasing out two bighas of land, Tk 2 lakh by selling cattle, and the rest through loans from various sources.

Manik also sought government assistance to bring back the body.

When contacted, Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rafiqul Islam said the administration would take necessary steps to assist in bringing back the body once the family approaches them.