A Jamaat activist injured following a clash with BNP activists on Sunday here died at Kushtia general hospital today noon (Monday).
The deceased was identified as Khokon Ali 34, hailed from Burapara village in Amla Union of Mirpur upazila in the district.
The clash ensued when BNP men attacked a public meeting called by Jamaat over chaos on formation of an ad-hoc committee of school committee leaving at least 20 people from both sides injured. Khokon had been undergoing treatment at Kushtia General Hospital with critical condition.
According to police and local sources, a dispute had been going on between Union Jamaat leader Nasim Reza Mukul and local BNP activist Rashed Mahmud Nasir over the post of Convener of Burapara High School managing committee. Both were candidates for the position of convener.Upazila Jamaat submitted the name of Mukul as their candidate.
Kushtia District unit Jamaat Secretary Sujauddin Jowardar claimed that the Jamaat had nominated their union leader Mukul for the school’s ad-hoc committee.
Source said, BNP activist Nasir had reportedly been pressuring Mukul to withdraw his name from the committee. On Saturday night, Nasir allegedly threatened Mukul.
In response, local Jamaat leaders and activists organized a protest meeting on Sunday afternoon at the Burapara school grounds.
BNP supporters arrived at the scene, leading to verbal altercations. At one stage, BNP activists allegedly attacked Jamaat supporters, triggering a violent clash where both sides used various lethal weapons.
The clash left at least 20 people injured on both sides.
Police intervened to control the situation. Among the injured, eight were admitted to the Upazila Health Complex and 12 to Kushtia General Hospital. Three of the injured reported to be in critical condition. Died Khokon was one of them.
Rahmat Ali Robban, Member Secretary of the Mirpur Upazila unit BNP Convening Committee, stated that Nasir was a former leader of BNP’s student wing Chhatra Dal and now a BNP activist.
Jamaat secretary Sujauddin claimed that BNP activist Nasir had been threatening him to withdraw Mukul’s nomination. He alleged that the BNP activists launched the attack during their protest meeting, injuring many Jamaat supporters.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mirpur Police Station Mominul Islam confirmed the incident saying that no written complaint had been filed as of yet.