Noakhali AL leader murdered

A leader of Noakhali district Awami League was murdered at his village in Sadar upazila of Laxmipur on Sunday night.
Yusuf Ali Selim, 54, treasurer of the district unit AL, and president of the Sadar upazila bus owners' association was killed near his home at Titarkandi around 9:30pm. He was going to Noakhali by a motorbike.
Eyewitnesses Javed and Sobhan, who were also on the motorbike told this correspondent that a man called the AL leader, addressing him as 'Selim Bhai', when their motorbike reached Mahatabpur area of Charmotua union under Noakhali Sadar upazila.
The man who was standing on the road could not be seen and identified as the place was dark. As Selim stopped his bike, the man threw the light of a big torch straight on his eye while five to seven people including a woman, who were hiding in the roadside garden, attacked Selim with iron rod. The gang also stabbed him soon after he fell down from the motorbike, they added.    
Locals rescued the AL leader and took him to Noakhali Medical College Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
Kohinur Begum, wife of Selim, later lodged a case with Sudharam police station under Noakhali district.
She alleged that members of local criminal gang 'Solaiman Bahini' had long been threatening to kill Selim following the death of their ringleader Solaiman in a gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion.