Scuffle at Iftar: BCL leader shot in B'Baria

A Chhatra League leader was shot twice in the left side of his chest following a scuffle at an iftar mahfil in Brahmanbaria town's East Medda area yesterday.

Critically injured Saiful Islam Shanto, 25, a former assistant secretary of Brahmanbaria BCL, was first rushed to Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital and then shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

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Police sources and witnesses said a scuffle broke out over sitting arrangements at the iftar programme around 6:25pm. At one point, Masum Billah, a former president of BCL in the district, slapped a top leader of the newly-formed Brahmanbaria municipal unit of BCL.

After being slapped, the leader went outside and returned with a pistol a few minutes later. He then opened fire, leaving Shanto wounded, the witnesses said.

Several police members were present at the programme and it all happened right in front of them, the witnesses said, adding the accused BCL leader fled the scene soon after the incident.

Nabir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station, said they detained three BCL leaders and activists along with one foreign pistol and two bullets from the spot.

The arrestees were Robiul Alam Robin, 24, organising secretary of Brahmanbaria Government College unit BCL, Chhatra League activists Sourav Paul, 19, and Ashraful Islam Emon, 19.

Police were raiding different places to arrest the main suspect, added the OC.