A local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was killed and five people injured in a clash between two factions of the party in Kishoreganj’s Tarail upazila this morning.
The incident occurred at Banail Bazar of Rauti union around 11:00am.
The deceased was identified as Abul Hasan, 55, the president of BNP’s Rauti union unit. Five others sustained injuries in the altercation, with some reported to be in critical condition, said Sohel Mia, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Tarail Police Station.
According to locals and party sources, the violence stemmed from a disagreement over the list of councillors for the upcoming Tarail upazila BNP council, scheduled for January 15. Yesterday afternoon, a meeting was held in Rauti to discuss the councillor list, during which Abul Hasan was involved in an altercation with Ghias Uddin, a member of the union BNP. The dispute escalated into a physical clash this morning.
“The injured were rushed to the Tarail Upazila Health Complex. Abul Hasan was declared dead at the hospital. Police forces have been stationed at the scene to control the situation,” the OC said.
Abul Hasan’s body was sent to Kishoreganj Shaheed Nazrul Islam Medical College morgue for an autopsy. Preparations for a formal case are underway, but no arrests have been made so far, the OC added.
Shamim Mia, nephew of the deceased, described the attack as a “planned” assault related to the party council. He said that his family was preparing to file a case in connection with his uncle’s death.
Md Mazharul Islam, the district BNP general secretary, said that the party would take action against those responsible for the violence.
