BNP leader dies amid scuffle outside Khulna polling centre
A BNP leader died outside the Alia Madrasa polling center in Khulna Sadar this morning (12 February) at around 8:10am.
The deceased was Mahfuzzzaman Kochi, former office secretary of Khulna Metropolitan BNP and a resident of Haji Mohsin Road Bye Lane in the city.
According to eyewitnesses and police sources, tensions rose between supporters of BNP and Jamaat around 8am in front of the academic building of Alia Madrasa polling center. During the incident, Kochi reportedly fell ill.
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Former Organising Secretary of Khulna Sadar Thana BNP unit Yusuf Harun Majnu alleged that tension had been brewing at the center since morning.
He claimed that the principal of Alia Madrasa, who he said was campaigning for Jamaat, pushed Kochi when he tried to obstruct him.
"As a result, Kochi allegedly hit a tree, suffered a head injury, and died on the spot," he claimed.
However, Center Director Mahbubur Rahman denied the allegation, saying BNP activists were forcing female workers out of the polling station.
"I tried to stop them. At that time, one of them fell ill. Later I heard he had died. There was no pushing or assault. The madrasa's CCTV footage will clarify everything," he said.
Presiding Officer of the centre, Saiful Islam stated that the incident occurred outside the polling center.
Sub-Inspector Khan Faisal Rafi of Khulna Sadar Police Station, who was on duty, said police quickly brought the situation under control after tension arose between the two sides.
"We saw a person being taken away in an auto-rickshaw. We did not witness any pushing or physical altercation," he said.
Dr Partha Roy, Emergency Medical Officer at Khulna City Medical College Hospital, said Kochi was brought to the hospital dead and no visible injury marks were found on his body.
However, BNP candidate for Khulna-2 constituency, Nazrul Islam Manju, alleged that Kochi died after being pushed by a Jamaat leader at Alia Madrasa and demanded the arrest of those responsible.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Jahangir Alam, chief agent of the Jamaat candidate, said Kochi died of a heart attack.
"It is unfortunate to involve Jamaat in this. The principal is not affiliated with Jamaat," he said.
