2 killed during clashes over auto-rickshaw stand in Narayanganj

Two men were killed in Narayanganj's Bandar upazila last night (21 June) in violent clashes between two rival factions of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over control of a local auto-rickshaw stand.

The deceased have been identified as Abdul Quddus (60), a tea vendor from Hafizibagh, and Mehedi Hasan (42), a former joint convener of the BNP's volunteer wing in Bandar.

Police arrested three individuals in connection with the incidents- Shanto, 26, son of Nannu Miah, Robin, 26, son of Alamchan and Sohel Chowdhury, 28, son of Selim Chowdhury.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police of Narayananj Protyush Kumar Mojumder visited the scene shortly after the killings, assuring that legal action will be taken against all those involved.

"We have already arrested three individuals. Two separate murder cases will be filed. No one involved will be spared," he said.

According to local sources and police, the conflict stems from a longstanding rivalry over the control of the autorickshaw stand between two former BNP ward councillors—Hannan Sarkar of ward no-21 and Abul Kawser Asha of ward no-23, who also previously served as president of the city volunteer wing.

Despite previously being political allies, supporters of Asha and Hannan had been at odds. One group, led by volunteer wing activists Rony and Zafar, was reportedly aligned with Hannan, while the other, led by former joint convener Mehedi Hasan and activist Babu Sikder, was associated with Asha.

On Friday (20 June), clashes between the two groups left at least eight people injured. The situation escalated last night (21 June) as both sides began roaming the streets armed with homemade weapons.

Around 10pm, supporters of Mehedi Hasan and Babu Sikder allegedly attacked and killed Abdul Quddus—father of Parvez, a member of the opposing group—by hacking him to death near the Shah Mosque area.

Following the murder, tensions flared across the locality. Angry residents staged a protest with Quddus's body and vandalised Hannan Sarkar's home.

Following the incident, law enforcement, including police and military personnel, rushed to the scene to bring the situation under control.

Just two hours later, around midnight, Mehedi Hasan was reportedly abducted from the street by members of the rival group.

He was then brutally beaten to death near the Siraj Ud Doula Club.

Speaking to reporters, Quddus's brother Dudu Mia said, "They called my brother out of his shop, asked about Parvez's whereabouts. When he couldn't answer, they killed him with sharp weapons."

Meanwhile, Mehedi's brother-in-law Mahfuzul Haque said, "After the murder, the rival group caught Mehedi on the road, dragged him into the club, and beat him to death."

Law enforcement has so far arrested three individuals and confirmed that two separate murder cases are being filed.

Asked about the incident, BNP Joint Convener Abul Kawser Asha said, "Rony and Mehedi were once part of the same group. They were even jailed together during the Awami League regime. But internal tensions and turf wars led to the rift. Both were close to Hannan Sarkar. I have no involvement in this matter."

Efforts to reach Hannan Sarkar for comment were unsuccessful, as his phone remained switched off.