Man dies from gunshot after Chhatra Dal leader allegedly opens fire to free BCL leader in Narayanganj
Babu reportedly opened fire on locals in an attempt to free Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader Sabbir Hossain Khoka, the former organising secretary of the BCL’s Bhulta Union unit
A businessman who sustained bullet injuries in an indiscriminate shooting -- allegedly by a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader in Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj -- has died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
The incident took place in the Majhipara area of the upazila yesterday afternoon (10 June). The deceased, Mamun Bhuiyan, was declared dead last night, confirmed Rupganj Police Station Inspector (Intelligence) Salahuddin Kader.
According to police and locals, it was Jahidul Islam Babu, nephew of Swechchhasebak Dal's Narayanganj district unit Convener Mahbubur Rahman, who opened fire. Babu is also the former publicity secretary of the JCD district unit.
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Babu reportedly opened fire on locals in an attempt to free Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader Sabbir Hossain Khoka, the former organising secretary of the BCL's Bhulta Union unit. Khoka is also known to be a close aide of former Awami League minister Golam Dastagir Gazi.
Locals said Khoka had been organising and participating in flash processions since the Awami League government fell in a mass uprising on 5 August last year. Yesterday morning, locals detained Khoka after spotting him in Majhipara and informed police.
Upon learning of the detention, Babu allegedly arrived at the scene with supporters and opened fire at the crowd in a bid to snatch Khoka. Businessman Mamun was critically injured during the shooting.
As locals chased after Babu, he fled the area. Meanwhile, Khoka was beaten by an angry mob. He is currently undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) in Dhaka.
However, Swechchhasebak Dal leader Mahbubur denied his nephew's involvement in the incident. "As soon as I heard about the incident, I looked into it. There's a lot of mixed reaction around this."
"I asked Babu, and he said, 'I wasn't involved. Some people from the Murapara Union were behind this. I didn't even go to the spot. If anyone can prove I was involved or that I went to the scene, I'll accept any punishment you give me'," Mahbubur told reporters.
Rupganj police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Liakat Ali said, "The bullet-hit victim was taken to DMCH. The BCL leader who was beaten is receiving treatment at NITOR. The accused, Babu, is currently on the run."
Mamun's family filed a case against Babu and 15 others at Rupganj Police Station last night, he added.
