A local leader of Awami League has been shot dead during violence following the union parishad (UP) election in Pabna’s Sadar upazila.
The incident took place in Nazirpur village of the upazila’s Himayetpur union on Tuesday evening.
The deceased was identified as Shamim Hossain, 40. He was the publicity secretary of the UP’s ward no. 1, 2 and 3 unit of Awami League.
Locals said election to Himayetpur union parishad was held on 26 December. Eight candidates contested the polls the chairman post. Six of them were independent candidates. Independent candidate Jahangir Aalm won the election beating the Awami League candidate.
Following the announcement of the elections results, dispute arose between the supporters of Awami League candidate Monzurul Islam and another independent candidate Tariqul Islam. Supporters of Tariqul Islam blamed the Awami League candidate’s supporters for the defeat.
Witnesses said deceased Shamim Hossain worked for the Awami League candidate during the election. As a result, supporters of independent candidate Tariqul Islam had been blaming him for the defeat of the Awami League candidate. On Tuesday evening, when Shamim went to a tea stall of Nazirpur village, supporters of independent candidate Tariqul Islam started scolding at him and blamed him for the defeat.
At one stage, independent candidate Tariqul Islam, his son and his supporters all together attacked Shamim Hossain them. They also fired several shots, leaving him injured.
Locals rushed Shamim Hossain to Pabna General Hospital where physicians pronounced him dead.
When asked, additional superintendent of police of Pabna Masud Alam told Prothom Alo, “It was learned primarily that independent candidate Tariqul Islam fired shots from his licensed gun. Police have been sent to the spot. We are investigating into the incident.”
“Tariqul Islam went into hiding following the incident. A hunt is on to nab him. The process is on to conduct autopsy of the deceased,” he added.