Picket killed as cops open fire in Chapainawabganj

A 14-year-old picket was killed and 20 injured as police opened fire during a clash with Islami Chhatra Shibir activists in Chapainawabganj town Wednesday morning.

The deceased, Asgar Ali Limon, son of Lokman Hossain of Upar Rajarumpur, was a class VII student of local Hamidullah High School, reports our Chapainawabganj correspondent.

Shafique Enayetullah, president of town unit Shibir, claimed that Asgar was an activist from his party.

Meanwhile, hours into calling an eight-hour hartal in the district for Thursday, Shibir, a pro-Jamaat body, has withdrawn it as the government had declared a national mourning day Thursday to pay respect to those who died in Savar building collapse.

Earlier, the party called the hartal in the district from 6:00am protesting the death in 'police firing', Shafique said.

Witnesses said Shibir staged demonstration and blockaded Chapainawabganj-Rajshahi highway at Upar Rajarampur area around 11:00am.

As police tried to disperse them, Shibir men threw brick chips and blasted several hand made bombs triggering a chase and a chase between them.

At one stage, law enforcers open fired and lobbed teargas canisters to bring the situation under control.

At least 18 Shibir activists injured including Asgar were injured during the firing, locals said.

Critically injured Asgar was rushed to a local clinic. He was shifted to Chapainawabganj Adhunik Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead around noon, Shafiqul Islam, said emergency medical officer of the hospital.

Asgar received a bullet in his neck, the medical officer said.

Relatives of Asgar took away his body forcibly from the hospital without any autopsy.

Police however retrieved the body from the deceased's house around 3:15pm and sent it to the Adhunik Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Bashir Ahmed, superintendent of police in Chapainawabganj, confirmed the death of Asgar.

The reason of Asgar's death will be ascertained after getting the autopsy report and investigation, the SP said.

Police recovered one live hand made bomb at Upar Rajarampur, said Ohidul Islam, assistant superintendent of police of Sadar Police Station.

Additional police, Rapid Action Battalion and BGB were deployed there.

Jamaat leader Enayetullah claimed that police fired on them without any provocation.

He said 17 party activists were injured during the clash.

On the other hand, Murad Hossain, an executive magistrate of Chapainawabganj, said he along with two police officials also received injuries during the incident.

Police and Rab detained 12 pickets from the spot, said Taposi Rani, ASI of Sadar Police Station.