JCD leader dies in crash while fleeing attack

A Chhatra Dal leader, who was hit by a microbus while trying to escape an attack allegedly by Jubo League men on Thursday night in Narayanganj, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday.

The victim, Amit Hasan, 18, was the vice-president of Chhatra Dal's ward No 5 unit of Kanchan municipality in Narayanganj's Rupganj upazila.

Chhatra Dal is the pro-BNP student body, while Jubo League is the youth front of the ruling Awami League.

Nahid Hasan, president of Chhatra Dal's Rupganj upazila unit, said they brought out a torch procession on Thursday night, protesting the recent arrest warrants against BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman in a corruption case.

Amit took part in the programme that began around 8:00pm from the upazila's Bhulta intersection area.

"After the programme ended, some Jubo League men attacked us with sticks and sharp weapons. We all were running to escape the attack," said Nahid.

"While running, Amit was suddenly hit by a microbus. Critically injured Amit was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he died around 3:00am today [yesterday]," he said.

Nahid also alleged that Bhulta union unit Jubo League President Rashed Bhuiyan and General Secretary Iqbal Sikder led the attack.

However, Rashed said neither he nor any Jubo League activists was involved in any such attacks. "I have heard about the incident from media," he told The Daily Star.

Contacted, Inspector Bacchu Miah, in-charge of the DMCH Police outpost, said, "The victim was hit by a microbus. He sustained severe injuries in his face and chest. The body has been sent to the hospital morgue for an autopsy."

AFM Sayeed, officer-in-charge of Rupganj Police Station, said, "We are not aware of the attack. We just got information from the Dhaka Medical College Hospital about the death of a youth, who was hit by a microbus."