Staff Reporter :
An activist of ruling Awami League was shot dead and at least 50 people received injuries in a clash in the Kanchan Bridge area of Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj district on Thursday morning.The deceased was identified as Mohammad Sujon, son of Monu Miah, resident of Rupshi Gobindapur village of the Kayetpara union. Of the injured men, 30 activists, including five bullet hit injured were admitted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital and some other clinics in critical condition. The members of law enforcing agencies also picked up 30 people in connection with the clash, Police said.
Quoting witnesses, Police said two groups of AL-men – one supporting Kayetpara Union parishad Chairman Rafiqul Islam and the other supporting local MP Gazi Golam Dastagir – took positions in the bridge area around 11:00am to obstruct BNP leaders and activists.
Their aim was to thwart any probable BNP ‘disturbances’ centring verdict against Khaleda Zia. But at one stage, the supporters of both groups locked into an altercation among themselves over establishing supremacy in the area. Both groups took part in chase and counter-chase and hurled brick chips. To bring the situation under control, police opened fire and lobbed tear gas shell.
Six critically injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where Sujon succumbed to his injuries around 1:30pm, said sub-Snspector Bacchu Miah, In-charge of DMCH police outpost.
Meanwhile, locals claimed that Sujon was killed in police firing, but Superintendent of Narayanganj Police Moinul Haque denied the allegation.
Additional police personnel have been deployed to avert further violence, the SP said.
