Bangladesh Chhatra League men were shot allegedly by Kaliganj Municipality Mayor Mustafizur Rahman Biju over construction of a road in Arpara area of the district yesterday afternoon.
Bullet-injured Munir Hossain Sumon, 25, joint secretary of Kaliganj upazila unit BCL, is now undergoing treatment at Jessore Medical College Hospital. Municipality Mayor Mustafizur Rahman Biju got furious as local BCL leaders and activists tried to stop construction work of a road from Srirampur to Bakulia.
Later, some BCL went to the house of the mayor to settle down the matter. At one stage of altercation, the mayor started shooting the BCL men, leaving Sumon and another member of the students’ front Rasel injured. Rasel received treatment from upazila health complex.
Then, some BCL men vandalised some vehicles kept in front of mayor’s house.
On receiving information, police went to the spot and brought the situation under control.
The mayor said: “I shot blank shots to disperse BCL men who tried to vandalise my house and lunch attack on me.”
He said a tender was invited for construction of a road at Khayertala village in September. The work started on October. But Chhatra League joint secretary Sumon backed by Awami League Lawmaker Anwarul Azim Anar along with some activists stopped the construction work on November as he failed to realise extortion from the him. The construction work started again yesterday morning and Sumon with his accomplices tried to stop the work again.
Over realising toll, BCL Secretary of Kaliganj upazila unit Kazi Ripon said: “We have no relation with extortion. People who were responsible for attack on mayor and his house should be punished.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police Ajbahar Ali Sheikh of Jhenaidah said additional police had been deployed to avoid further clash. Police had seized three motor bikes from the spot.
