A local Chhatra League leader has been shot dead as supporters of an AL-backed chairman and his rebel candidate traded gunshots in Laskardi area of Hosendi union under the district’s Gazaria upazila.
The incident, which injured 10 people including several policemen, took place near Hosendi bazar of the area on Monday night.
The corpse of Md Hanif, 25, publicity secretary of Hosendi Union unit Bangladesh Chhatra League, was sent to the district hospital morgue for autopsy.
Police said supporters of AL rebel candidate Mahabubul Hoque Majnu brought out a procession in the evening, and some time later a chase and counter-chase ensued as AL-backed chairman aspirant Manirul Hoque Mitu proceeded with another counter procession there.
At one stage, they fired at one another in the presence of policemen, leaving Hanif shot. He died of his injuries on the way to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
The ruling AL’s student body leader is a supporter of Mitu.
Police fired 131 bullet rounds and lobbed seven tear gas canisters to bring the situation under control. Five policemen were injured when hit by brick chips hurled by the AL men.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sadar circle) Kawser Rizvi Koresi said: “Hanif has been shot while trading gunshots with the unruly supporters of the two chairman candidates around 9:30pm and he died later. Additional policemen have been deployed in the area to further prevent any untoward incident, and our raids are on to arrest the alleged killers.”
Rebel candidate Majnu and his supporters went into hiding soon after the death and a suffocating situation prevailed there.
dhakatribune