An activist of Jatiyatabadi Chatra Dal, the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, was killed and at least eight others were injured as two factions of BNP鈥檚 youth front, Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal, locked in a clash in Chattogram city early Tuesday.
The incident took place at about 1:00am in front of Madina Residential Area on Syed Shah Road of the port city鈥檚 Bakalia area, the police said.
The deceased, Md Sajjad, 22, son of Md Alam of Taktarpul of the Bakalia area is from Muradnagar in Cumilla.
Sajjad鈥檚 family members said that JCD activist Sajjad was a follower of Emdadul Haque Badsha, an expelled organising secretary of Chattogram city Juba Dal鈥檚 dissolved committee.
The injured people are Jewel, Sabbir, Sharif, Yasin, Ekram, Parvez, and Maruf, all residents of Bakalia鈥檚 Boubazar area.
According to the police and locals, the clash erupted between supporters of Emdadul Haque Badsha and Juba Dal leader Borhan Uddin over hanging banners to mark Juba Dal鈥檚 founding anniversary.
Witnesses said that Borhan鈥檚 followers had hung a banner featuring a photo of Chattogram city mayor Shahadat Hossain on Syed Shah Road. Later at night, Badsha鈥檚 supporters allegedly tried to remove the banner, citing the mayor鈥檚 instructions. The two groups then locked in an altercation, which escalated into a violent clash and gunfight.
During the exchange of gunfire, Sajjad and several others were hit by bullets.
Locals rescued the injured victims and took them to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared Sajjad dead on arrival.
Speaking at the CMCH morgue, Sajjad鈥檚 father Md Alam said, 鈥楳y son was called out by his friends. I don鈥檛 know what caused the clash. I want justice.鈥�
Mayor Shahadat Hossain, while visiting the hospital to see the deceased鈥檚 body Tuesday morning, said, 鈥楾he attackers are known criminals in the area. Once they were under the protection of the Awami League, and now they are trying to use my photo to gain influence. I had instructed the police to remove the banner, but no action was taken, and it led to this incident.鈥�
Bakalia police station officer-in-charge Md Ikhtiar Uddin said that no case was filed until Tuesday evening and none was arrested in this connection.
