Awami League activist killed in Kushtia factional clash

An activist of Awami League was killed and 20 others were injured in a clash between two rival groups of the ruling party over establishing supremacy in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia today.

Deceased Shahidul Islam alias Haq Sardar, 46, was a resident of Dhalsa village in the upazila, our local correspondent reports.

The clash ensued following an altercation between the supporters of Chatian union unit AL president Jasim Uddin Mandal and General Secretary Taser Ali in Dhalsa Bazar around 8:30am, said Azizur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Mirpur Police Station.

The two rival groups, equipped with homemade weapons, attacked each other, leaving Shahidul, a supporter of Jasim group, dead on the spot and 20 people injured, the OC added.

On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

The injured were taken to Kushtia General Hospital.

Police and locals said Taser Ali had a longstanding dispute with Jasim over establishing supremacy in the area.

The feud started after the last union parishad election when Jasim was elected chairman at Dhalsa UP defeating Taser.