BNP-JCD clash over extortion in Sunamganj leaves pedestrian dead

A pedestrian was killed, and several others were injured in a clash between two groups of BNP and Chhatra Dal over allegedly extorting from vehicles in the Madhyanagar upazila of Sunamganj on Monday night.

The victim was identified as Mohammad Ali, son of the late Hossain Ali Talukdar of Hossainpur village of the upazila.

Police and locals said followers of the upazila unit of BNP convening committee member Moktar Hossain had been extorting money from lorries passing through the Mahishkhola Bazar from nearby Tahirpur upazila.

As general secretary of Bangshikunda Uttar, the union unit of Chhatra Dal, Harun Mia has tried to take control over the extortion. The trouble started with Moktar, said Officer-in-Charge Madhyanagar police station Md Sajeeb Rahman.

On Monday afternoon, he said, an argument broke out between the two groups over the matter, which turned into a clash, leaving several people injured, they said.

The injured were taken to Upazila Health Complex, where physicians declared Ali dead upon arrival, said the OC.

The body was sent to Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, he added.