‘Rivals’ shoot dead youth in Fatullah

A youth has been shot dead in Narayanganj’s Fatullah allegedly over the control of a drug racket that sparked a turf war, police say.

The victim, Ashraful Islam Babu, 32, traded in factory-seconds garments.

Md Jakaria, additional superintendent of Narayanganj police’s special branch, said Babu was killed late on Thursday.

Locals say two rival groups have been long vying to take control of the business of factory-seconds clothes off loaded by 30 garment manufacturers and an illegal drug trade at Tagarparh.

They fought a turf war two months ago.

Police had arrested the son of a local transport workers’ leader after the clash, while his other son, ‘Rafique’ – who allegedly killed Babu – had gone into hiding.

Rafique reportedly returned to the area on Thursday night with an associate. 

Babu and his men accosted them, triggering an alteration. At one point, Rafique shot Babu, Sub-Inspector Md Kamrul Hasan of Fatullah Model Police Station said quoting locals.

He was rushed to the Khanpur Hospital but was referred to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

ASP Jakaria said an additional police force had been deployed in the area. 

“We’re trying to arrest the killer,” he said.