Tension rises in Lakshmipur as Jamaat blames BNP for leader's death, BNP rejects allegation

Tensions arose in Lakshmipur following the death of Jamaat leader Kawsar Ahmed Milon, 60, allegedly due to an attack by rivals.

The Laxmipur district unit of Jamaat held a press conference at the Lakhsmipur Press Club today (10 June), where District Secretary Faruq Hossain Nur Nabi alleged that Kawsar Ahmed was the victim of a premeditated attack.

According to his written statement, at around 11:30am on 5 June, about 15–20 individuals — including Riaz, Roni, Kamal, Sohag, Zahid, Rocky, Babul, Soheg Besha, Shahed, Suman, and Swapan Ahmed — armed with local weapons, attacked Kawsar over a longstanding dispute.

Kawsar, who was also a local imam and head of a Jamaat unit, was injured and taken to the Lakhsmipur Sadar Hospital. However, fearing further threats — allegedly from the attackers who showed up near the hospital — he returned home after receiving primary treatment. His condition later deteriorated, and he was declared dead upon being brought back to the hospital.

On 8 June, Kawsar's wife, Shipli Begum, filed a murder case (No. 386/2025) at Lakhsmipur Sadar Police Station, naming 12 BNP activists from Adilpur and Rajibpur areas as accused, confirmed officer-in-charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station Md Abdul Mannaf.

An investigation is underway, he added.

BNP responds: Claims incident is social, not political

Lakhsmipur BNP leaders held a separate press conference yesterday (9 June). Former MP and BNP Joint Secretary General Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie dismissed the incident as a political issue, instead framing it as a local dispute arising from drug and theft-related tensions.

Annie accused Jamaat of turning a "social problem" into a political weapon. He said, "We urged Jamaat not to politicise this issue. The victim's brother, Arju, was a known associate of the Jubo League, involved in drug and theft incidents."

Annie further claimed that Jamaat had agreed to either wait for the autopsy report or name only 1–2 individuals in any legal complaint, but instead named 12 BNP activists, violating that understanding.

Meanwhile, Jamaat leaders accused BNP of backtracking on prior agreements. Faruq Hossain stated at the press conference today that BNP leaders had verbally agreed to expel those involved in the attack and cooperate with legal proceedings. Instead, BNP publicly defended the accused in their press conference, causing further friction.

The press conference was also attended by Dr Rezaul Karim, Secretary of Dhaka North Jamaat, district Nayeb-e-Ameer A.R. Hafizullah, and Assistant Secretary Mohsin Kabir Murad. Jamaat also organised a protest rally in Jakshin Bazar yesterday (9 June).

The incident

On 5 June, a scuffle broke out between Arju — the brother of deceased Kawsar Ahmed — and local resident Riaz Hossain over the theft of a tubewell allegedly involving Arju's son.

Kawsar and several family members were injured in the altercation. Though treated initially, Kawsar fell ill later in the day and died en route to the hospital in the evening.

Riaz, the accused, claimed that Kawsar died of a stroke and denied any involvement in his death.

The accused Riaz said, "Arju's son stole the mosque's tube well and fled. When I detained him, Arju assaulted me. That led to a conflict between Arju and me. We had no issue with the deceased Kawsar. I heard that he died in the evening from a stroke."

Riaz and his companions also filed a written complaint at the Sadar Police Station regarding the incident.

Investigation and political fallout

BNP has formed a three-member investigation committee to address the allegations. The committee includes Mahbubur Rahman Liton, Mokhlesur Rahman Harun, and Mofazzal Hossain Roni.

Meanwhile, the local police confirmed a case has been filed, and an investigation is underway. Sadar Hospital's Residential Medical Officer (RMO) Dr Arup Pal said an autopsy has been performed, but the cause of death will only be known after the report is finalised.

Locals say the incident has fueled growing tension between BNP and Jamaat, heating up the political atmosphere in Lakhsmipur in recent days.