One person, who the local Chhatra Dal claimed to be one of their leaders, was killed yesterday in an alleged “gunfight” with the Rapid Action Battalion in Chapainawabganj’s Kansat.
Protesting the death, the BNP-led 20-party alliance has called a 48-hour hartal starting from 6am on Sunday across all districts of Rajshahi division.
The deceased was Motiur Rahman, son of Montu Ali from Shibganj upazila’s Bajitpur Guhipara village. The RAB claimed that some weapons and crude bombs were also recovered following the incident.
Major Kamruzzaman Pavel, commander of RAB 5 in the district, said several people were detained near the Shyampur Nari Kalyan School on Thursday during a joint forces drive in Shibganj. One of the detainees – Motiur – admitted his involvement with subversive activities in the upazila, the RAB commander claimed, adding that the elite force then took Motiur on a drive to recover weapons.
The RAB claimed that Motiur’s associates opened fire on the team once they reached Kansat in the early hours of yesterday. Motiur allegedly tried to flee during the ensuing gunfight and died after being caught in the line of fire being exchanged. His body was later handed over to the Shibganj police station.
General Secretary of Shibganj upazila Chhatra Dal Abdullah Al Faruk claimed the deceased was the vice-president of Chhatra Dal’s Shyampur union unit.
However, Motiur’s father Montu Ali said his son was not involved with any political party, and was only a second-year student at Kansat Solaiman Degree College. He claimed that law enforcers had wrongfully detained and killed Motiur, who did not even have any case filed against him.
Motiur’s family and neighbours demanded a proper inquiry into the death of Motiur and demanded justice against those involved.
Asked if Motiur faced any case with the local station, Shibganj police station Officer-in-Charge MM Moynul Islam could not confirm the issue.
Saying Motiur’s body was sent to Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy, the OC said legal measures were being taken regarding the death.