Two youths died in the middle of a chase and counter-chase between two Awami League groups in front of Mohammadpur Nobodoy Housing Society in the Mohammadpur area of Dhaka on Saturday morning.
The deceased are Sujon, 18, and Arif, 15.
With the mention of no name, local people and police said a group of youths upon the invitation of local leader Nur Alam, went to participate in the program of Awami League leader Sadeq Khan, as he was on his way to collect his nomination paper from the Dhanmondi Awami League office.
The youths used a pick-up van to join the program. At the time, they were obstructed by supporters of lawmaker Jahangir Kabir Nanak, MP. His supporters were throwing brickbats and clashed with the youth.
The two youths died when the pickup van tried to escape the place and ran over them.
Nanak, also the Awami League Joint General Secretary, is one of the nomination seekers from the constituency.
Sadeq, the general secretary for the Dhaka City North branch of the party, is planning to compete against Nanak.
However, the police were unable to confirm, which group the deceased belong to.
Both of them were residents of Mohammadpur’s Nabinagar Housing and were masons.
Sujon’s friend Amin while speaking to the Dhaka Tribune said: “We six friends were going to play football when Nur Alam (a local Awami League leader) asked us participate in their program.”
“Later, we went to Mohammadpur Nobodoy Housing Lohar gate area and used a pick-up van to join the program,” he added.
He also said: “The supporters were throwing brickbats at us. We panicked and tried to get down from the van. At the time, two among us were run over by the van as the driver was trying to escape the spot.
“Our friend Sujon was severely injured and rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where the duty doctors declared him dead around 12pm.”
Later, Sub-Inspector of DMCH police outpost Bachchu Mia confirmed it and said they have informed the matter to the concerned police station.
The other injured, Arif, was taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital where he too was pronounced dead.
What police say
Mohammadpur police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Jamal Uddin Mir said: “We heard that a clash took place between two groups. Later, police went to the scene and brought the situation under control. However, we are not clear about the circumstances surrounding the deaths.”
Mohammadpur Police’s Inspector (Investigation) Abul Kalam Azad said: “Soon after the incident the van fled the scene. We are investigating the matter and a process is underway to file a case.”
Meanwhile, Adabar police station OC SM Kawser Ahmed said he had heard about the incident around 1pm but the situation was already under control by then.
"Nobody has made an official complaint as yet," he said. “Further, no one has been detained in connection with the incident."
Meanwhile, Nanak said: “The incident mainly originated because of the disorder created bysupporters of Sadek Khan. His own supporters are responsible for the deaths.”
Sadek Khan on the other hand said he does not know who is responsible for the incident.
He said: “Two of my party men have died. Police will investigate the matter and find out what actually happened. We will talk with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissionerabout this issue.”
