Video of attack on a war veteran Awami League leader by party goons goes viral

A video of a recent attack on a war veteran Awami League leader reportedly by the henchmen of another leader of the same party at Shailakupa in Jhenaidah district, has gone viral on the social media.

The video shows a group of youths armed with sticks and hammers swopped on the elderly Awai League leader Muktar Ahemd Mridha sitting on a chair in front of a shop. He looked baffled with the attack and skewed away to avoid the attackers who indiscriminately hit him until some other people came to his rescue. The attackers came for the second time within a few seconds but stopped by the people thronged there.

The social media have been flooded with reactions criticising the attack on the war veteran.

The ruling party's Jhenaidah district unit member and former union council chairman Muktar Ahmed Mridha came under the attack around 7pm on Oct 18 at a shop where he was sitting.

The attackers are reportedly loyal to Jhenaidah Awami League President Md Abdul Hye, MP, and Shailakupa Upazila Awami League chief and former JaSoD leader Sona Shikder, the victim's relatives told bdnews24.com.

The attackers were detained but freed five days after securing bail from the District Judge's Court.

Muktar's son Sumon Mridha told bdnews24.com: "Jadab hit my father first. He is known to be a bodyguard of Sona Shikder. Another of his bodyguard Ripon then hit my father with a hammer."

"The third attacker (with red t-shirt) is Sumon from Horihara village. He is an accomplice of Sona Shikder's son Iku," Sumon said.

Bangladesh Chhatra League's Shailakupa Upazila unit General Secretary Shawon Shikder (with white check polo-shirt) is seen snatching the iron rod from attacker Sumon.

Shawon hit Muktar eight times. He then drew another person, also in red t-shirt, away beating as the person tried to save Muktar.

The situation calmed down for a few seconds but Sona Shikder's henchman 'Sachchu' then came forward and hit Muktar with a machete several times. Shawon then joined in with an iron rod.

Muktar's son Sumon said Shailakupa Swechchhasebak League President 'Cornel', General Secretary Rajib Bahadur, Juba League President Shamim Molla, and General Secretary Shamim Shikder helped the attackers.