BNP leader hacked to death as police link attack to ‘World Cup rivalry’

The conflict began after celebrating Brazil’s victory against Japan, police say

A BNP leader has been hacked to death and another wounded in Dhaka’s Adabor, following a dispute over watching a football World Cup match and celebrating the victory, police have said.

The incident occurred at Adabor’s Nabodoy Bazar around 8pm on Wednesday.

The dead, Abul Bashar Badshah, was the general secretary of the local BNP unit.

The injured, Saddam Hossain, serves as the president of the same unit.

Adabar Police chief Jahidul Islam told bdnews24.com that both men were initially rushed to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital following the attack.

They were later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors pronounced Badshah dead around 11:30pm.

Jewel Rana, additional deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Tejgaon Division (Mohammadpur-Adabar Zone), said: "The dispute originated the day before yesterday, stemming from celebrations following the Brazil match victory.

"Consequent to that altercation, the two local BNP leaders were attacked on Wednesday."

He added that Saddam had filed a written complaint with Adabar Police Station on Tuesday.

However, conflicting statements are being received from different factions, and all information is currently being verified.

According to police, the trouble began during celebrations of Brazil’s victory against Japan.

When a group of local teenagers played drums and blew whistles, an argument broke out between a man named Habib and another individual named Nirob, both identified by a single name. It is alleged that Habib assaulted Nirob at the time.

The following day, acting on the same dispute, Saddam reportedly went to Nabodoy Bazar and assaulted Nirob again.

Local BNP leaders subsequently intervened in an attempt to resolve the matter through arbitration.

In continuation of these efforts, a meeting was convened at Habib's office in Nabodoy Bazar on Wednesday.

However, at the conclusion of the arbitration, clashes erupted between Saddam and his supporters on one side, and associates of Nirob and his elder brother Ripon on the other.

Amidst the ensuing clashes between the two factions, Saddam and Badshah were hacked and severely injured.

Police confirmed that Habib is involved in local BNP politics, while Ripon and Nirob are known followers of Miraj, the senior vice-president of the local BNP unit.

Efforts are under way to identify and apprehend those involved in the killing.