Infighting kills BCL leader
1 missing, 3 hurt as Jessore factions clash again
The convener of Jessore sadar upazila unit Chhatra League was hacked dead in an attack allegedly by rival group yesterday, a day after the organisation's district council was suspended following a factional feud.
With almost all the shops and businesses shut, panic spread through the town in the evening following the death of Ripon Hossain alias Dada, also a candidate for the general secretary post of the district unit Bangladesh Chhatra League. Selim, a fellow activist who was with Ripon during the incident, has been reported missing.
Meanwhile, police yesterday filed a case against 500 unidentified people, following Saturday night's fight between two BCL factions. The clash left at least 20 BCL men injured. Both factions blamed one another for the incident that suspended the council.The killing of Ripon followed stabbing and beating of BCL activists by their rival groups throughout the day, leaving at least three BCL activists wounded.
Sources said Ripon came under attack on his way to Jessore town from his home in Aranda. He was riding a motorbike along with Selim. A gang stopped Ripon as he reached Bhekutia Bazar around 7:00pm. They hacked him and dumped his body in the roadside pond. Whereabouts of Selim were not known as of 8:30pm.
Locals dragged Ripon from the water and took him to a local hospital where doctors declared him dead around 7:15pm. "A group of five or six BCL activists, jointly led by Hafiz, Iqbal and Mikayeel, launched the attack," alleged Rabiul Islam, Ripon's uncle. Sources said the attackers are the supporters of local lawmakers and Ripon was a supporter of local upazila parishad chairman.
Another group, loyal to a local ruling party lawmaker, stabbed Aziz, 50, an Awami League leader, in Rail Gate area of the town, yesterday noon.The same group beat up Ajhar Hossain Swapon, joint secretary of district Jubo League and activist Monwar Hossain Joni in the morning.
Leaders and activists of Awami League, backed by an upazila parishad chairman, brought out a procession in the town protesting the attacks. Sources said members of both factions were seen carrying arms.
With almost all the shops and businesses shut, panic spread through the town in the evening following the death of Ripon Hossain alias Dada, also a candidate for the general secretary post of the district unit Bangladesh Chhatra League. Selim, a fellow activist who was with Ripon during the incident, has been reported missing.
Meanwhile, police yesterday filed a case against 500 unidentified people, following Saturday night's fight between two BCL factions. The clash left at least 20 BCL men injured. Both factions blamed one another for the incident that suspended the council.The killing of Ripon followed stabbing and beating of BCL activists by their rival groups throughout the day, leaving at least three BCL activists wounded.
Sources said Ripon came under attack on his way to Jessore town from his home in Aranda. He was riding a motorbike along with Selim. A gang stopped Ripon as he reached Bhekutia Bazar around 7:00pm. They hacked him and dumped his body in the roadside pond. Whereabouts of Selim were not known as of 8:30pm.
Locals dragged Ripon from the water and took him to a local hospital where doctors declared him dead around 7:15pm. "A group of five or six BCL activists, jointly led by Hafiz, Iqbal and Mikayeel, launched the attack," alleged Rabiul Islam, Ripon's uncle. Sources said the attackers are the supporters of local lawmakers and Ripon was a supporter of local upazila parishad chairman.
Another group, loyal to a local ruling party lawmaker, stabbed Aziz, 50, an Awami League leader, in Rail Gate area of the town, yesterday noon.The same group beat up Ajhar Hossain Swapon, joint secretary of district Jubo League and activist Monwar Hossain Joni in the morning.
Leaders and activists of Awami League, backed by an upazila parishad chairman, brought out a procession in the town protesting the attacks. Sources said members of both factions were seen carrying arms.
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