Sherpur Jamaat leader dies in clash with BNP activists: Report

A Jamaat-e-Islami leader was killed after being injured in a clash between activists of Jamaat and the BNP during an election manifesto reading programme in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur.

The clash broke out yesterday afternoon (28 January) at a programme organised by the upazila administration, reportedly following an argument over seating arrangements.

The deceased was identified as Maulana Rezaul Karim, secretary of Sreebardi upazila Jamaat-e-Islami. He was also an Arabic lecturer at Fatehpur Fazil Madrasa, according to media reports.

He died on his way to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

Confirming the death, Jamaat's Sherpur-3 constituency candidate Nuruzzaman (Badal) said in a Facebook post that Maulana Rezaul Karim had been killed in what he described as a "brutal attack" by BNP supporters during the manifesto reading programme.

He also claimed that more than 50 Jamaat leaders and activists were injured in the clash, three of whom were in critical condition.

Nazrul Islam, in charge of the police camp at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, told Prothom Alo that emergency department doctors declared Rezaul Karim dead around 9:35pm.

"He was brought to the hospital already dead, and his body has been kept at the morgue for post-mortem," he added.

According to local sources and the upazila administration, an altercation began between BNP and Jamaat activists over sitting in the front row. The situation soon escalated, leading to a clash between the two groups.

At least 30 leaders and activists from both parties were injured in the incident, according to officials.

At least six motorcycles and over a hundred of chairs were vandalised and set on fire during the clash that began at 3pm, reports UNB. Leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and the BNP blamed each other for the violence.

Maulana Rezaul Karim was critically injured in the clash and was first taken to the Jhenaigati Upazila Health Complex. He was later shifted to Sherpur Sadar Hospital as his condition deteriorated. As his health continued to worsen, he was referred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. He died on the way late at night.

Jamaat condemns attack, alleges administrative failure

Jamaat's Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has expressed deep sorrow over the killing of Rezaul Karim.

In a statement, Porwar strongly condemned the attack and described the incident as a "brutal and premeditated" act of violence.

According to the statement, the manifesto reading event was a peaceful and democratic programme. However, even before it formally began, the venue filled with voters and party supporters. At that point, armed BNP activists and their youth wing Jubo Dal attacked supporters of Jamaat-led 11-party alliance candidate Md Nuruzzaman Badal using local weapons.

Maulana Rezaul Karim was critically injured in the attack and later died from his injuries. The statement claimed that more than a hundred people, including the candidate, party activists, journalists and members of the public, were also injured.

Parwar said the use of muscle power and armed attacks on political opponents to influence elections through fear and violence would never be accepted by the people of the country. He demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible.

The Jamaat leader also raised serious concerns over law enforcement's response, alleging that attackers blocked roads while the injured were being taken to hospital and that police and RAB failed to ensure their safe transfer despite appeals for assistance.

He said ensuring the safety of lives and property is a constitutional duty of the police, and questioned the apparent failure to act effectively, calling the role of the administration "mysterious and condemnable".

Parwar demanded clear answers from the Election Commission and law enforcement agencies, asking who is responsible for ensuring equal rights and security for candidates and voters during election campaigns and why that responsibility was not fulfilled in this case.

He urged the immediate identification and arrest of those involved in the killing, recovery of weapons, speedy trial and exemplary punishment. He also called on the Election Commission to take effective steps to ensure neutral and adequate security at all future election programmes so that voting rights can be exercised in a violence-free environment.