One killed in AL factional clash

A man was killed and at least 10 others injured when followers of two Union Parishad chairman aspirants of the Awami League clashed in Jhenidah sadar upazila yesterday.

Akamat Meer, 51, of Soyael village in Padmakar Union, succumbed to his injuries one hour after the fighting.

Four of the injured -- Amjad Meer, Yeakub Hossain Meer, Jiarul Islam and Rezaul Islam -- were admitted to Jhenidah General Hospital, while Jiarul was referred to Dhaka as his condition is critical, said Dr Shahnewaj Kashem of the hospital.

The deceased belonged to the group of incumbent chairman of Padmakar Union and AL president of the union Bikash Chandra Biswas. His rival is AL general secretary of the union Nizamul Goni Litu.

The clash ensued from an altercation between their followers over who of the two would seek party nomination to run in the UP election slated for May 4, said Officer-in-Charge of Jhenidah Sadar Police Station Hasan Hafizur Rahman.

Police rushed in and fired four blank shots to take control of the situation, he said.