AL activist shot dead in Kushtia infighting

An activist of Awami League was shot dead and nine others were injured in a factional clash in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia this evening.

The deceased, Sahabuddin Shahin, 30, was an activist of Mirpur upazila unit AL and also a garment shop owner in Amla Bazar area.

A group of AL men loyal to Kamarul Arefin, general secretary of Mirpur upazila unit AL, attacked the followers of Joint Secretary Anwarul Islam around 5:30pm when the latter were preparing for an iftar party at Amla Bazar, our Kushtia correspondent reports quoting witnesses.

At one stage, Kamrul’s followers opened fire, leaving at least 10 people including Shahin injured. The injured were taken to Kushtia Medical College Hospital where Shahin succumbed to his injuries around 7:00pm.

Mofizullah Md Rafiqul, officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station, said six Awami League activists received bullets wounds during the clash.

Shahin’s father Sahar Ali, also a member of Amla union parsiahd, also received bullets wounds as he went to save his son.

Anwarul alleged that Kamarul, also the upazila chairman, opened fire on his men.

Contacted, Kamrul said: “They were giving slogans against me using abusive words, which provoked my men.”  

Party sources said a longstanding rivalry had been prevailing between the factions over establishing supremacy in the area.