BNP activist ‘loses eye’ in alleged Jamaat attack in Bogura, mother dies after hearing of injury

At least six people were injured in a violent clash between activists of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in Nandigram upazila of Bogura on Monday night, with the BNP alleging that one of its local leaders lost an eye during the attack.

The injured BNP leader, Masud Rana, president of Majhagram Union BNP, sustained severe injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. 

BNP also claimed that his younger brother, Rabiul Islam, a leader of the party's volunteer wing, was critically wounded in the same incident.

According to BNP leaders, Masud's right eye was gouged out during the violence. Hospital authorities confirmed that he suffered a serious eye injury, though they did not verify the exact nature of the damage.

The clash occurred in Panshun village of Thalta Majhagram Union. BNP activists alleged that tensions escalated after they detained two individuals accused of vote-buying ahead of the election.

Tragedy followed the incident when Masud's mother, Rabeya Bewa, 65, fell seriously ill after learning about her son's condition and later died at her home yesterday afternoon. Her funeral prayers were held at the family residence later at night.

Meanwhile, both BNP and Jamaat leaders presented competing accounts of the incident at separate press conferences at the Bogura Press Club yesterday.

Speaking at the BNP press conference, Mosharraf Hossain, the party's candidate for Bogura-4, alleged that the violence began after BNP activists detained two leaders of the ruling Awami League's volunteer wing over accusations of vote-buying in support of a Jamaat candidate.

According to him, Abdul Majid, a former Awami League activist who is now working for Jamaat, had gone to Parshun village with several Jamaat-Shibir activists to distribute money to voters in favour of the party's election symbol, the scale.

Mosharraf claimed BNP activists caught two individuals red-handed and informed the police. However, before police action could be taken, hundreds of Jamaat supporters armed with sticks and sharp weapons allegedly arrived on motorcycles and attacked Masud Rana's house, vandalising property and forcibly freeing the detainees.

"Jamaat-Shibir activists assaulted Masud, gouged out one of his eyes and also beat his brother," Mosharraf alleged. "Masud is currently undergoing treatment at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. Doctors have confirmed that he has lost one eye."

He said Masud was taken to hospital by his wife Salma Begum and college-going daughter Mim Akhtar. After learning about her son's injury over the phone, Rabeya became seriously ill and later died. Her funeral prayers were held at the family's village home at 9pm on Tuesday.

Mosharraf also accused law enforcement agencies and the district returning officer of inaction during the incident.

However, about an hour after the BNP press conference, Jamaat's candidate for Bogura-4, Mostafa Faisal, held a separate briefing at the press club, rejecting the BNP's allegations.

Faisal claimed that Asadullah Al Galib, described as a "July fighter", and several Jamaat activists, including a man named Faruk, were attacked and unlawfully detained by BNP supporters.

According to him, BNP activists attacked Galib while he was returning home after campaigning for the referendum. He also alleged that Masud Rana and his brother Robiul Islam led attacks on Jamaat workers, leaving several of them injured.

"Our activists were beaten, their heads were injured, and they were tied up and held at the house of a BNP leader," Faisal said.

Asked about allegations of police inaction, Bogura Superintendent of Police Md Shahadat Hossain said the violence and vandalism took place before police arrived at the scene.

"Police later rescued the injured and took them to hospital," he said.

Deputy director of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, Manjur E Murshed, said Masud Rana had suffered a serious eye injury.

"There is severe trauma to Masud Rana's eye. Several other injured people are also receiving treatment. His eye injury is critical," he said.