Was political rivalry the reason?
The massive popularity of Narsingdi's Shibpur Upazila Parishad Chairman Harunur Rashid Khan and the possibility of him contesting in the next general election might be reasons behind Saturday's gun attack on him.
Enmity between him and one Arif Sarkar over the lease of a local wholesale market could've also led to the attack, suspect Harunur's family and local Awami League (AL) leaders.
They said Harunur was Shibpur upazila AL president for 25 years. He was relieved from the post on December 6, 2021, on charges of breaching party discipline.
They believe local ruling-party lawmaker Zahirul Haque Bhuiyan Mohon might've had a hand in Harunur's removal, which led to a bitter relationship between the MP and Harunur.
My uncle is a popular leader and was planning to contest in the next general election, which irked MP Mohon. My uncle's popularity is a big hurdle for Mohon to win in the election.
"My uncle is a popular leader and was planning to contest in the next general election, which irked MP Mohon. My uncle's popularity is a big hurdle for Mohon to win in the election," Rabbi Khan, Shibpur upazila AL publicity secretary and Harunur's nephew, told The Daily Star.
Three people, including Arif, went to Harunur's house on Saturday morning. Asking the guests to sit in the living room, Harunur went to bring some sweets. At that point, someone shot him from behind, said law enforcers.
Mentionable, a photo uploaded on Arif's Facebook profile shows him walking closely with Mohon while many others were behind.
Asked about the suspicion of the victim's family and local AL leaders, Mohon said a third party is bringing his name up for ulterior motives.
"I am against any sort of criminal activity. Attack on Harunur is like an attack on me," he told The Daily Star last night.
Condemning the attack, he demanded arrest of the real culprits. The lawmaker claimed he had no role in relieving Harunur from his post.
Asked about Arif's picture, the lawmaker said he has been nominated as an MP candidate four times and has thousands of supporters. "Anyone can take a photo with me, but I will not be responsible if they commit a crime later."
Puthia Union Awami League President and UP Chairman Hasan Sani Elich said, "Arif is not politically involved with Awami League. He is known in my area as Mohon's brother and district Jubo League vice president Junu's right-hand man."
This newspaper phoned Junayed Haque Junu three times but he could not be reached for comments.
Asked about suspicions behind the attack, Deputy Inspector General of Dhaka Range Nurul Islam said investigation is ongoing and he cannot comment on the motive.
"Harunur has already disclosed the identities of the three men who went to his home. Within a short time, we will be able to arrest them, and they will reveal why they tried to kill Harunur," he told The Daily Star.
He, however, refused to disclose the names of the three for the sake of investigation.
Harunur is now undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Meanwhile, Firuz Talukder, officer-in-charge of Shibpur Police Station, said they detained four suspects. "We are interrogating them to ascertain whether they were involved."
An unregistered motorcycle that was used by the assailants has been seized from Shibpur's Palpara Bazar area.
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