Ex-Jubo League leader shot dead

A former Jubo League leader was shot dead and three pedestrians suffered bullet injuries during a clash between two groups of cable TV providers over establishing supremacy on the cable TV business in the city's DC Road area yesterday afternoon. 

Deceased Faridul Islam, 35, former organising secretary of Chawakbazar Thana unit Jubo League, was also involved in cable TV and sand trade, said police.

The injured pedestrians were crossing the area during the gunfight.

They are Md Sagor, 18, Nurjahan and her 11-month-old grandson Belal Hossain. They were undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital, said SM Mostain Hossain, deputy commissioner (South) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police.

A baby boy with his mother at Chittagong Medical College Hospital after suffering injuries during a clash between two groups of cable TV service providers in DC Road area of Chittagong yesterday. The 11-month-old and his grandmother were hit with shotgun pellets during the incident. Photo: Rajib Raihan

Faridul was a business partner of Emdadul Haque Badsha, one of the owners of Kashem Cable TV Network (KCTN), said Kutub Uddin, an employee of KCTN.

Prasun Kanti Nag, another owner of KCTN, told The Daily Star that he along with Emdadul and Saymol Palit had been running the KCTN business in Chawakbazar, DC Road and Chandanpura areas for the last 15 years.

Faridul used to do cable TV business with Emdadul in DC Road area, he added.

Prasun alleged that MA Musa, secretary of Bakalia ward unit Awami League, also a cable TV    businessman, had been trying  to grab their cable TV business in the area for the last three months.

Around 100 to 120 men of Musa gathered in the DC Road area to set up their cable lines yesterday noon, said KTCN staffer Kutub, alleging that they were also snapping the cable connections belonging to Emdadul.

Hearing the news around 2:30pm, Emdadul, Faridul and their men rushed to the spot and tried to stop the rivals at Mia Baper Mosque, triggering the clash, said Kutub.

Witnesses and police said both groups exchanged fire during the clash.

Inspector Jahirul Islam of CMCH police outpost said the bullet pierced through the left side of Faridul's chest. He was declared dead at the CMCH.

Faridul's daughter Zara said her father returned to house after Juma prayers and sat for his lunch. He came out of house after getting a phone call and they later found him dead at the CMCH.

Police were trying to collect the CCTV footage and arrest the killers, said DC Mostain.

Locals said there are around 2,000 cable connections under the KTCN.

The Daily Star could not reach Musa for his comments.