3 held over BNP leader’s murder in Lakshmipur

Three people were detained yesterday in connection with the fatal shooting and stabbing of a local BNP leader in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila on Saturday.

Police, however, did not reveal their identities.

Around 8:30pm on Saturday, Abul Kalam Johir, 40, was hacked and then shot to death by miscreants on the road in front of a shop in Paschim Latifpur village under Chandraganj union in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila. He died on the spot.

Police and local sources said Kalam was once involved in drug and sand trading. Police suspect the murder took place over establishing supremacy.

Kalam was the general secretary of ward 4 unit of BNP in Chandraganj union, the union's BNP President Md Belal Hossain told The Daily Star.

"The three were detained in a combing operation carried out in various places in Lakshmipur Sadar from Saturday night to Sunday morning," said Chandraganj Police Station OC Faizul Azim Noman.

BNP leader and its nominated candidate for Lakshmipur-2 Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee visited the family after receiving the news of the murder. He urged the law enforcement agencies to arrest the killers and demanded a proper investigation into the murder.

Meanwhile, locals in the area, requesting anonymity, alleged that Kalam had a longstanding rivalry with one Pichchi Kawsar, 22.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Md Rezaul Haque confirmed the matter. "I heard that the deceased had a dispute with Pichchi Kawsar. Kawsar is not involved in Chhatra Dal politics, but he used to introduce himself as a Chhatra Dal leader and committed crime in the district."

Chandraganj OC Noman said that after the autopsy, the family of the deceased went home with the body on Sunday afternoon. "After the burial, the family is expected to come to the police station to file a case at night."