Swechchhasebak Dal leader killed in ‘BNP factional clash’

A leader of Swechchhasebak Dal has been killed in a clash allegedly between two BNP factions at Trishkania in Kanchan municipality area in Rupganj upazila.

The deceased was identified as Azhar Uddin, 48, senior vice-president of the Swechchhasebak Dal’s Ward No-9 unit.

Three others -- Sabuj, Ripon and Emrat -- were injured in the clash and are receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Local sources said an internal discussion meeting of BNP and its associate bodies was held at the Ward No-9 office on Friday evening.

During the meeting, an argument broke out between Ward Swechchhasebak Dal president Sabuj and Jubo Dal activist Rajib Hossain over the placement of names in a programme list.

At one stage, Rajib and his associates allegedly punched Sabuj and Azhar. Azhar fell to the ground after being injured. He was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition where doctors declared him dead.

Rupganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shabzel Hossain said Azhar was killed during a scuffle stemming from a dispute over name placement in a party programme.  The body has been sent to a morgue for autopsy, he said.