Unidentified assailants have gunned down two people, including a local Awami League leader, in Dhaka’s Shahjahanpur.
Published : 24 Mar 2022, 11:41 PM
The victims are Jahidul Islam Tipu, 54, former general secretary of the party’s Motijheel unit, and Samia Afnan Prity, 18, a rickshaw passenger.
Tipu was also a member of Motijheel Ideal School and College’s governing body. Prity, a student of Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls’ College, was on her way to a friend’s home from Malibagh.
Locals said the assailants opened fire at Tipu’s microbus on the street under a flyover outside Manama Bhaban in the Amtala area around 10pm on Thursday and Prity was hit by a stray bullet. Tipu’s chauffeur Munna, 24, identified with a single name, was also injured.
Police, however, said one gunman on a motorcycle carried out the attack.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s emergency department physician Dr Md Alauddin said Tipu and Prity were brought dead. Munna was admitted to the hospital.
Tipu’s wife Farzana Islam Dolly is a local councillor of Dhaka South City Corporation. They live in Shahjahanpur.
Several leaders and activists of Dhaka Metropolitan Awami League gathered at the hospital upon hearing about the attack on Tipu.
“He [Tipu] was a good person. I don’t understand why he came under attack.”
Tipu was accused and arrested in a case over the 2013 murder of Juba League leader Reazul Haque Khan Milky.
Sumaiya Akter, a friend of Prity, said Prity was travelling to Sumaiya’s home in Tilpapara from hers in Malibagh.
“I went to the Khilgaon Railgate Area to receive her. The incident occurred while we're on our way on the rickshaw,” she said.
A gunman wearing a helmet on a motorcycle fired several shots through the car’s window
and fled, according to Ahad.
Police recovered 11 bullet casings from the scene.
Shuvro said Tipu’s funeral prayers will be held at Motijheel AGB Colony grounds after Jum’ah prayers on Friday.