One dies in gunfight as rival Awami League groups clash in Dhaka

A man has died in a gunfight as two local groups of the ruling Awami League engaged in a turf war in Dhaka on Sunday.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 22 April 2018, 01:11 PM
Updated : 22 April 2018, 04:31 PM

The dead has been identified as Kamruzzaman Dukhu, the brother of a local Awami League leader.

The clashes that occurred in the neighbourhood of Dhaka’s Badda area left eight others bullet-injured.

Supporters of local MP AKM Rahmatullah and acting Beraid Union Parishad Chairman Jahangir Alam clashed as they tried to establish supremacy in the area, said Police Inspector Kazi Wajed Ali.

Ali said tensions simmered as both groups tried to control the area after Beraid was recently included under the Dhaka North City Corporation.

The injured include Nazir Hossain, Badal Mian, Taj Mohammad, Sharif Hossain, Md Azim, Abdul Karim and Taj. They were taken to the Apollo Hospital.

When contacted, Jahangir, also the general secretary of Badda Awami League, claimed that Dukhu was his brother.

“MP Rahmatullah’s nephew Faruk opened fire on Awami League supporters in Beraid. My younger brother died by his gunshot,” he said.

His another brother, Md Kamal Hossain, joint general secretary of Beraid Union Awami League, suffered bullet injuries and was admitted to Apollo Hospital.

Rahmatullah wants to induct his nephew into the Metropolitan Awami League and see his son as a councillor uncontested, Jahangir alleged.

He alleged that Rahmatullah’s supporters obstructed him to enter the area. “I feel insecure. I want help from law-enforcement agencies to ensure security.”

Reached for comment, Rahmatullah, who is president of Dhaka Metropolitan North AL, told bdnews24.com, “I was offering my prayers. I cannot say clearly who were involved in the clash or if anyone has been killed.”

He claimed the people of Beraid want his elder son Hedayetullah as chairman of the union council.

“Being jealous of my popularity, somebody may be involved with the clash,” Rahmatullah said.

He said his son has obtained a higher degree in microbiology from London and is now in Japan for business.