At least one person has been killed and three others injured when masked miscreants opened fire on devotees at a Shia mosque in the district's Shibganj upazila.
The incident took place one month into the bomb attack on a Shia gathering in the capital's Hussaini Dalan that left two people killed and several others injured.
Police and witnesses said at least 20 devotees were performing the evening prayers at Imam Khomeni Shi Mosque in the upazila's Haripur village when a group of three or four masked miscreants stormed into the mosque, shot at them indiscriminately and ran away, injuring the mosque's muezzin Moazzem Hossain, 70, imam Shahinur Islam, 35, and Aftab Ali, 42, and Abu Taher, 70.
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Moazzem was hit with bullets in his head, Shahinur was hit in his waist, and Taher and Aftab in their legs, sources told the Dhaka Tribune.
Receiving information, a police team led by Bogra Superintendent of Police Asaduzzaman rushed to the scene and took the injured men to Shibganj Upazila Health Complex.
From there, Moazzem, Shahinur and Taher were taken to Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZRMCH) due to their critical condition. Moazzem died shortly after he was admitted to the SZRMCH.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune Shahinur said: “We were all praying when they attacked us. The rest were not harmed as they quickly lay down on the floor.”
Locals said people are in a state of panic in the area after the incident. Additional police members have been deployed in the village to avert further untoward situation.
During primary investigation, police found eight rounds of bullet shells in the scene.
They have to yet to learn who launched the attack on the mosque and why they did it, Additional Superintendent of Police Arifur Rahman Mandal told the Dhaka Tribune.
“We cannot say what happened until the investigation is complete.”
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