Upazila chairman shot dead in Rangamati

The vice president of Parbattya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samity's MN Larma faction Shaktimaan Chakma, 55, was killed in a gun attack yesterday morning.

He was also the chairman of Rangamati's Naniarchar Upazila Parishad.

Rupok Chakma, organising secretary of Naniarchhar upazila unit of the organisation, who was with him at the time of the attack, was also shot.

In another gun attack yesterday afternoon in Narsingdi's Raipura upazila, freedom fighter Sirajul Haque, 70, also the chairman of Banshgari Union Parishad, was killed.

In Rangamati 's incident, Rupok was admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

Police said the attack took place around 11:00am in front of the upazila parishad office in Naniarchar.

PCJSS activists alleged that the attack was carried out by the United People's Democratic Front.

Contacted, Mikel Chakma, a UPDF spokesperson, denied the allegation and said the victim was killed in an intraparty dispute.

Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge of Naniarchar Police Station, said three suspects attacked Shaktimaan as he got down from his motorcycle in front of the upazila parishad complex to enter the office, reports UNB.

The assailants opened fire on him indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured.

He was taken to Upazila Health Complex where the duty doctor declared him dead.

The OC added that police were yet to know the motive behind the attack.

The injured victim was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

Shaktimaan's body was taken to Rangamati hospital for autopsy.

The body was later taken to Rangamati Bar Association office where his colleagues paid tributes to him.

Alamgir Kabir, superintendent of police in Rangamati, said a team of police rushed to the spot hearing gunshots. They found three criminals fleeing the scene. However, as the distance was long, the law enforcers could not arrest the killers, the SP was quoted by UNB as saying.

Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader directed the police super of Rangamati to take the crime seriously and find the killers.

UP CHAIRMAN SHOT DEAD

Sirajul Haque, 70, who was shot dead by criminals yesterday, was also the president of Banshgari union unit Awami League, our Brahmanbaria correspondent reports.

He was elected union parishad chairman seven times.

Delwar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Raipura Police Station, said Sirajul was returning home by a motorcycle after attending a meeting of Raipura upazila disaster management committee. 

Around 1:30pm, the criminals intercepted the motorcycle in Alinagar Arakanda village on Raipura-Banshgari regional road. They beat up the man who was riding the motorcycle and opened fire on the chairman.

The attackers had fled the scene by the time locals rushed to the spot. Sirajul was taken to Raipura Upazila Health Complex, from where doctors referred him to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital. He died on the way to the hospital.

MN Mizanur Rahman, resident medical officer of Narsingdi Sadar Hospital, said the victim was shot in his head and neck. He died due to heavy bleeding. 

OC Delwar said there had been a longstanding conflict between two groups-- one led by Sirajul and the other by former UP chairman Shahed Sarkar-- over establishing supremacy in Banshgari union.

This conflict might have led to the killing of Sirajul, the officer added.

Hearing the news, locals set fire to the houses of Shahed and two of his supporters.