Awami League leader Afsar Sikder, 55, was killed in an attack by supporters of an opposition councillor candidate and upazila vice chairman of Mehendiganj in Barisal.
He died at 9am on Monday while undergoing treatment at Barisal’s Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.
Afsar was a supporter of Nurul Haque Jamaddar, a councillor candidate of ward no 8 and an election agent of the mayoral candidate of ward no 8.
He was the vice-president of Mehendiganj municipality’s ward no 8 unit of Awami League and a motorcycle mechanic by occupation.
Councillor candidate Md Nurul Haque Jamaddar said that Afsar Sikder was his supporter. His opponent Saki Kawsar (Nippon Talukder), another candidate from ward 8, along with seven to eight of his followers beat up Afsar Sikder in front of Patarhat RC College in the municipal area around 2:30pm on Sunday.
After being rescued in a critical condition, he was taken to the Upazila Health Complex. The doctor on duty referred him to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital when his condition deteriorated. He died while undergoing treatment there at 9am on Monday.
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Nurul Haque Jamaddar, a councillor candidate for the Panjabi symbol in ward no 8 of Mehendiganj, said: “Opposition councillor candidate Saki Kawsar has been threatening my supporters out of jealousy over my popularity and voter support. My supporter and Awami League leader Afsar Sikder died in the ensuing clashes.
“We are now suffering from insecurity due to Saki Kawsar's terrorists. I demand exemplary punishment for all those involved in this murder,” he added.
Saki Kawsar, a councillor candidate for the ostrich symbol, was contacted on his mobile phone but he refused to comment.
Describing the incident, Russell Sikder Rimon, son of the deceased, said that on Saturday night, Babul, the local Labour League secretary, threatened to kill his father if he did not work for Saki Kawsar, the councillor candidate for the ostrich symbol.
“Following this, around 2:30 pm on Sunday, councillor candidate Saki Kawsar and his supporters beat up my father and left him on the street near Patarhat RC College,” he added.
Rimon demanded death penalty for all those involved in the killing, including Saki Kawsar.
Abul Kalam, officer-in-charge of Mehendiganj police station, said there was a scuffle between the supporters of two councillor candidates on Sunday afternoon. At one stage, Afsar Sikder was knocked to the ground.
He was later admitted to the local hospital and Sher-e-Bangla Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The OC also said that no case or written complaint has been lodged with the police station so far.
