An Awami Jubo League leader has been shot dead during a clash with supporters of a rebel Awami League chairman candidate in Jamalpur’s Dewanganj upazila.
At least five other people were also injured in the violence, ahead of the upcoming Upazila Parishad Election, in Chukaibari Union Parishad office area, in the early hours of Thursday, police said.
The deceased was identified as Abdul Khalek, 48, a supporter of the ruling-party-nominated chairman candidate Abul Kalam Azad.
Dewanganj police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Aminul Haq said the supporters of rebel candidate Solaiman Haq, brandished firearms and local weapons, and swooped in on Azad’s followers around 12:30am.
At one point, both groups exchanged fire, leaving Khalek dead on the spot and five others injured.
Three of the injured were admitted to Dewanganj Upazila Health Complex and the other two to Jamalpur General Hospital, said the OC.
Khalek’s body was taken to the morgue at Jamalpur General Hospital.
The situation was tense in-and-around the area following the incident.
OC Aminul said additional police personnel were deployed in the area to avert further trouble.
He added that Khalek’s nephew, Muslim, later filed a murder case at Dewanganj police station, accusing 31 people.
Police were conducting raids to arrest the perpetrators, said the OC.
