‘BNP man’ kills AL leader in Faridupur ‘during argument over polls’

A BNP supporter has been accused of killing a local leader of the Awami League and injuring another during an altercation over election in Faridpur.

The deceased, Yusuf Ali Mamun, 40, was the North Channel unit leader of the ruling party and supporter of LGRD Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain MP, a candidate for the Faridpur-3 (Sadar) seat. 

Injured Lalon Fakir, the chief of a local ward unit, was admitted to Faridpur General Hospital after the incident at Goaldangi on Tuesday night.

It was the second death in polls violence in Bangladesh after the campaign started on Monday.

Afsar Uddin, an eyewitness, told bdnews24.com that Mamun had an argument over the polls with BNP candidate Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf’s supporters ‘Majid’ and ‘Aziz’ at a tea stall around 8:30pm.

Majid punched Mamun and hit him with a stick when Mamun protested against Majid’s derogatory remarks about Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, according to Afsar.

Mamun died while being taken to the Faridpur Medical College Hospital, he added.

Faridpur Awami League Vice-President and District Council Chairman Lokman Hossain Mridha said supporters of BNP candidate Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf carried out “a deadly attack” on ruling party supporters “to create anarchy during the election”.

North Channel Union BNP President Jamiruddin Haji said Mamun and Aziz were of same age and acquaintances.

“They had an argument over the Awami League and the BNP in the election. An accident happened. It was not premeditated,” he added.

Kotowali Police Station OC AFM Nasim said they had deployed additional forces in the area to keep the situation under control.

He refused to speak further about the incident, saying he had despatched a team to the site for investigation.

Local Awami League leaders said Khandker Mosharraf urged the party activists to stay calm.