16 Patuakhali BNP men sued

Sixteen BNP men have been sued on charge of killing Masud Matabbar at Itbaria village under Sadar upazila on July 17.

Freedom fighter Ayub Ali Matabbar, father of Masud, filed the case with Sadar Police Station on Tuesday night, accusing the BNP men.

Maksud Ahmed Bayezid Panna, vice-president of BNP district unit, and Abdur Rob Howlader, president of the district unit of Krishak Dal, are among the accused.

"After proper investigation, we will take legal steps against the persons involved," said S M Tariqul Islam, officer-in-charge of the police station.

The district unit of BNP demanded withdrawal of the case filed against the party men. Advocate Mujibur Rahman, organising secretary of the unit, said the party men were not in the killing. "It is a conspiracy against the local BNP leaders and activists," he said.

An unknown gang hit Masud, 30, with sharp weapons while he was returning home from Botolbunia Bazaar in the upazila on Friday night.

He was admitted to Patuakhali General Hospital and then shifted to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital where he died at around 3:00am.