DHAKA: At least seven people including five Chhatra Shibir activists and one Awami League leader were killed in three separate incidents in Lalmonirhat and Joypurhat district on Sunday during dawn-to-dusk hartal called by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
Our Correspondent reports:
IN LALMONIRHAT: Four people along with three Chhatra Shibir men, including its Patgram upazila unit president, were killed and 15 other injured in a clash with police in Kafirbazar area in the upazila of the district on Sunday morning.
The deceased were identified as Mintoo Mia, 35, son of Bahal Uddin and Religion Affairs Secretary of No-2 Awami League of Patgram upazila, Upazila unit Chhatra Shibir president Moniruzzaman, 25, its two activists Abdur Rahim, 22 and Saju, 32.
Patgram Thana Assistant Sub-Inspector Ashraful Alam told banglanews, “In the name of hartal, Jamaat-Shibir men hurled cocktails and petrol bombs at some vehicles around 7:30am.
Being obstructed by police, Shibir men threw cocktails and opened fire aiming them. In reply, police fired rubber bullets, tear shell and bullets, leaving Abdur Rahim dead on the spot and 15 others including Moniruzaman injured critically.
Later, Moniruzaman and Saju succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at Patgram hospital.”
Patgram Hospital residential Medical Officer Dr Pronab Das told banglanews, “Police brought a dead body and other succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
Patgram Thana Officer-in-Charge Sohrab Hossain confirmed the matter to banglanews.
Later, Jamaat-Shibir men set fire to two houses including the house of upazila Awami League office secretary Lovelu.
Later, a leader of Awami League was beaten to death by activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatra Shibir in Sherwar Bazar area under Patgram upazila of the district on Sunday noon.
Witnesses said Jamaat-Shibir men beat Mintoo randomly at around 1:00pm and dumped his body on rail line and fled the scene.
IN JOYPURHAT: Three people were killed and at least seven people received bullet injury in a clash between Chhatra Shibir and law enforcers in Haltri area under Sadar upazila of the district on Sunday afternoon.
The deceased were identified as Firoz Hossain, 30, a van puller son of Fazlur Rahman, Shibir activists Insan Ali, 22, and Sihab Hossain son of Iqbal Hossain residents of the area.
Witnesses said that Jamaat-Shibir men and police locked into a clash in the area at 4:00pm, leaving Sihab dead on the spot and nine others injured critically.
The injured were rushed to district Sadar Hospital and local clinics.
Firoz and Insan succumbed to their injuries on the way of hospital.
However local administration, District Magistrate Mohammad Eyasin imposed section 144 in Joypurhat municipality areas from Sunday 5:00pm to Monday 6:00am to avert further violence.
Sadar Thana Officer-in-Charge Abdur Rashid confirmed the matter to banglanews.
BDST: 2112 HRS, DEC 15, 2013
Edited by: Golam Rosul, Newsroom Editor/