36-hr hartal in Rajshahi division from Sunday
The BNP-led 20-party alliance has called a 36-hour hartal across Rajshahi division from Sunday protesting death of a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) man in an alleged shootout with Rab in Chapainawabganj.
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) however claimed to have killed an “arsonist” in a “gunfight” at Kansat of Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj early today.
Harun-ur-Rashid, BNP’s organising secretary for Rajshahi division, told The Daily Star Online this evening that they will enforce the shutdown in all eight districts of the division from 6:00am Sunday.
The victim was Matiur Rahman, 35, son of Unsar Ali from Shibganj, our local correspondent reports quoting Maj Kamruzzaman, Rab-5 camp commander in the upazila.
The victim was an arsonist, one who torches vehicles and throws crude bombs during the alliance’s blockade, said a message flouted to the media by Rab headquarters.
The “gunfight” takes place a day after paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) announced to shoot down saboteurs anywhere for “the sake of the people’s security”.
According to what Maj Kamruzzaman said the elite force detained three such arsonists from Kansat Bazar around 3:00pm yesterday. “Following their confessional statements, Rab accompanied the trio in a drive to nab hidden firearms.”
Sensing their presence, their other associates started indiscriminate firing on the Rab men, he said. “The law enforcers were compelled to fire back. Motiur came in the line of fire and died on the spot. Others managed to flee.”
“A pistol, a revolver, two LGs, two shooter guns, five bullets, three magazines, 17 crude bombs, 10 petrol bombs and five locally made sharp weapons were found from the spot.”
Shibganj police have recovered the body.
Meanwhile, Shahjahan Mia, president of Chapainawabganj district unit BNP, claimed the victim as his party worker and alleged that Matiur was subjected to extrajudicial killing.
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