'How Can People Kill Someone Over A Football Match?': Bangladesh's World Cup Fever Leaves 12 Dead

Last Updated:July 10, 2026, 18:09 IST

From fatal stabbings and alleged lynchings to electrocutions while hoisting team flags, Bangladesh's World Cup obsession has left at least 12 people dead in a month.

Bangladesh has never played at a FIFA World Cup. Yet every four years, the country turns into a sea of yellow and green or blue and white.

Football has long enthralled millions across Bangladesh and neighbouring West Bengal, once part of undivided Bengal. But while the sport enjoys a devoted following on both sides of the border, Bangladesh’s football obsession often makes headlines — and, in today’s parlance, goes viral — for the sheer scale of its celebrations.

This World Cup, however, Bangladesh has gone viral for another, far grimmer reason.

The country, which has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup, has witnessed a series of fan clashes, fatal stabbings, alleged lynchings and even accidental deaths linked to football celebrations, turning a month-long festival of sport into one of its deadliest in recent memory.

The latest victim was 38-year-old Mohammad Shariful Islam from Uttar Cheranga village in Nilphamari’s Jaldhaka upazila, who had moved to Cumilla about eight months ago in search of work. The e-rickshaw driver was allegedly beaten to death following a minor altercation while watching the Argentina-Egypt World Cup match on television.

According to investigators, Islam became involved in an argument with several local youths during the match. The confrontation soon turned violent and he later succumbed to his injuries. The attack took place shortly after midnight on Tuesday at Mohsin Mia’s shop in Dhanpur under Cumilla’s Adarsha Sadar upazila.

“How can people kill someone over a football match? I have two daughters. Who will they call father now? My two daughters have become orphans. I want the harshest punishment for those who killed my husband," his tearful wife, Beauty Begum, said.

Shariful Islam, however, was far from the only victim of Bangladesh’s World Cup frenzy.

On June 29, 15-year-old Nahid Hasan was allegedly stabbed to death in Ashulia after an argument over the Brazil-Japan match spiralled into violence. His family alleged that four Brazil supporters lured him out of his house before killing him and burying his body beneath a mound of sand.

Just two days later, on July 1, 30-year-old BNP leader Abul Bashar Badshah was hacked to death in Dhaka’s Adabor area after another dispute linked to the Brazil-Japan match. Local mediation had reportedly failed to resolve the row before it turned deadly. Fellow BNP activist Saddam Hossain sustained serious injuries in the same attack.

Not all the deaths came in clashes between rival supporters.

Three people died in separate electrocution accidents while putting up their favourite teams’ flags. School student Mahin Sheikh was electrocuted on June 19 while hoisting a Brazil flag in Mymensingh’s Gafargaon. Ramhari Baishnab died on June 15 while installing an Argentina flag in Chattogram, while Faisal was electrocuted on June 9 while putting up a Brazil flag in Manikganj.

About the Author

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c...Read More

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