AL factional clash leaves 1 dead

A ruling Awami League activist was killed and 10 others were injured in a factional clash in Mirpur upazila yesterday evening.

The dead, Sahabuddin Sahin, 30, son of Sahar Ali, was an AL activist of Mirpur upazila unit who used to run a garment shop at Amla Bazar.

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Anwarul Islam, joint general secretary of the upazila unit, alleged that the incident took place when Kamarul Arefin, general secretary of the same unit and also chairman of the upazila parishad, opened fire on his men at Amla Bazar around 5:30:pm.

A group of AL activists belonging to Anwarul gathered there for Iftar, he said, adding that he was scheduled to go there as well.

A long rivalry has been prevailing between the two leaders over intra-party politics and establishing supremacy in the area, insiders said.

A group of men belonging to Kamarul attacked the Iftar gathering led by his younger brother Anisul Arefin, witnesses said.

They opened fire on the people leaving around 10 men injured.

Of the injured, Sahabuddin succumbed to his injuries at Kushtia Medical College Hospital around 7:00pm.

Sahar Ali, his father and also a member of Amla Union Parishad, went to save his son and was hit by a bullet. His condition was stated to be critical.

The other injured were undergoing treatment.

Contacted, Kamarul claimed, “They were chanting slogans against me using abusive words that provoked my men.”

Mofizullah Md Rafiqul, officer-in-charge of Mirpur police, said six AL activists had received bullet wounds during the clash.

Additional police force was deployed in the area to ward off further clash, he said.