A leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami has been shot dead in a “gunfight” with law enforcers in Kaliganj upazila, Satkhira. Five policemen have been injured.
The deceased has been identified as Ashraful Islam, 45, general secretary of the Kushalia union Jamaat unit, according to locals and police.
Police cracked down on a “secret meeting” of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Bhadrakhali High School field early on Wednesday, Kaliganj police Officer-in-Charge Mohsin Ali said.
“They hurled crude bombs and opened gunfire on police,” he added. “Law enforcers were forced to fire back. Ashraf was found lying on the spot after others fled.”
He was declared dead when taken to Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex, he added. “The Jamaat leader has several sabotage cases filed against him.”
Five policemen injured in the “gunfight” were Sub Inspector Mohsin Tarafdar and constables Shariful, Jabbar, Kamal Hossain and Abdul Ahad. They were given primary treatments.
Satkhira was believed to be a stronghold of the Jamaat and listed “vulnerable” area in the country where specialised forces were cracking down on violence.
