BNP leader killed by 'rivals' in Kushtia: Five arrested

The victim is Golam Mustafa alias Mukul, 38, president of Ambaria union BNP also ex-chairman of the same union.

Police told this correspondent the incident happened near Gobindapur bridge on the Kushtia-Meherpur highway when the victim reached there at about 11.30 am from his village home at Nagarpara in Mirpur upazila. Riding a motorcycle he was going to Kushtia town. Ten armed men claiming themselves to be BNP activists waylaid him. As he stopped they shot him point blank and killed him on the spot. They left the place riding three motorcycles.

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Cadres of the rival underground party might have gunned down him, apprehended police.

Mukul, a close associate of jailed notorious outlaw Siraj in the region, was once a leader of the outlawed JSD Gano Bahini (JGB). He surrendered to the then Awami League (AL) government on July 23, 1999. He recently joined the ruling BNP and became the Ambaria union BNP president. He was an accused in several cases including murder, abduction and extortion, police said. Police recovered the body and sent it to Kushtia General Hospital for autopsy.

Additional security forces were deployed in the area.

No case was filed till filing of the report at 5.30:pm on Wednesday.

According to a report on Friday, five persons including the incumbent Chairman of Ambaria Union Parishad (UP) and the Kushtia unit Bangladesh UP Chairmen Forum secretary, Mashiur Rahman Milon were arrested on Thursday in connection with the incident.