Criminal Babla was main target, not BNP leader: Ctg police chief on shooting

Sarwar Hossain alias Babla, a listed criminal accused in at least 15 cases, was the main target of the shooting that took place   during the campaign of BNP candidate for Chattogram-8, Ershad Ullah, said Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz.

Babla was shot in the neck at point-blank range in the city's Chalitataly area under Bayezid Police Station yesterday (5 November) evening.

Three others — BNP candidate Ershad Ullah, Irfanul Haque alias Shanto, joint convener of the Swechchhasebak Dal's 3 No Ward unit, and party activists Aminul Haque and Murtaza Haque — were wounded in the attack. The injured were taken to Evercare Hospital in Chattogram. Doctors said Irfanul's condition was critical.

Babla had married a month ago and was often seen accompanying BNP leaders at political events after being released on bail last year.

The commissioner visited the hospital late at night and assured, "The masterminds are already in jail. Their associates carried out this mission and fled on motorcycles. We've found evidence that will help identify them soon."

Describing the shooting as "alarming" ahead of the polls, the commissioner added, "We urge all political parties to inform police 24 hours before holding rallies or campaign programmes. We'll provide full security."

He also mentioned that Ershad had met him earlier in the day but did not inform police about his plan to campaign in Chalitataly. "Even the Bayezid police were unaware of his movement there," the commissioner said.

Witnesses said Ershad had offered Maghrib prayers at a local mosque and then entered a departmental store with about 15–20 party workers to distribute leaflets and greet shopkeepers. The group was chanting slogans and moving slowly along the narrow road when the attack occurred.

Suddenly, multiple gunshots rang out. In a 15-second video of the incident that later spread on social media, Ershad is seen handing out leaflets surrounded by supporters. Babla, wearing a white T-shirt, was just a few feet away from him. All of a sudden, a man in a black shirt pushed through the crowd, pressed a pistol against Babla's neck, and fired. Within seconds, seven to eight rounds were heard as panic broke out. Party men screamed and scattered in fear.

"When the shooting started, everyone ran. It was over in less than ten seconds," said witness Md Shahabuddin. "The gunman came from within the crowd. No one realised he wasn't one of us."

Witnesses gave conflicting accounts of how the attackers arrived. Some said six to seven masked men came on three motorcycles and waited nearby before the shooting. Others claimed they saw a black microbus approach the area moments before the attack.

Bayezid Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jasim Uddin confirmed the death and said police had launched an investigation. "One person has died. The others are out of danger. We are determined to arrest the attackers at any cost," he told The Business Standard.