An activist of Bangladesh Awami Jubo League was beaten up in broad daylight by assailants in a Chittagong neighbourhood on Sunday – allegedly due to intra-party rivalry.
The incident took place at the N Block of Bishwa Colony area in the city’s Akbar Shah police station area. The victim, 26-year-old Md Mohsin, is currently undergoing treatment at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
Police say, Mohsin’s attackers are also members of Jubo League, the youth front of the ruling party, and they beat him up over some internal rivalry.
Police have arrested five individuals connected to the attack. They were identified as Md Saju, 24, Md Masud, 18, Md Miraj, 17, Md Belal, 20, and Md Tarek, 18.
This attack follows the gruesome attack on 22-year-old Rifat Sharif, who was hacked to death by several people, in front of his wife, in broad daylight, in Barguna town on June 26.
Similar to Rifat’s attack, a video footage of the attack on Mohsin went viral on social media.
Police say Mohsin is a known follower of Sarwar Morshed, joint convener of Awami League’s Uttar Pahartali ward chapter.
Accused in three cases, Mohsin had been in jail, and was released on bail on Saturday – only a day before he was attacked.
As the footage shows, a group of 12-15 men swooped on Mohsin, and began to beat him up.
Mohsin was seen trying to escape, but the assailants barricaded him, and kept beating him mercilessly with rods, and sticks.
Mohsin was seen begging the attackers to let him go, but in vain. At one point, thinking he was dead, the attackers left Mohsin on the street.
He was later taken to the CMCH.
Checking the footage, police identified the five accused, and later arrested them.
“We conducted raids, and detained five youths connected to the incident. Among them, two were directly involved in the attack. A dagger, which was used to attack Mohsin, was recovered from Saju,” Jasim Uddin, OC of Akbar Shah police station, told Dhaka Tribune.
All five of them are known followers of Jahurul Alam Jasim, Uttar Pahartali ward councillor, and joint convener of Awami League’s ward unit.
Police said the group had attacked Mohsin over previous rivalry, as well as a show of power in the area.
The OC said preparations to file a case in this regard is underway.
"We are trying to arrest others involved in the attack,” he added.