BCL leader shot over sharing lease money at Noakhali cattle market

A local leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) has sustained gunshot wounds following a skirmish over sharing the lease money of a cattle market in Sonaimuri of Noakhali.

Rifatul Islam, a member of BCL’s Sonaimuri upazila unit, was shot in the leg at Ward 5 in the municipality around 9:00 pm on Sunday.

Locals said the Sonaimuri High School grounds were leased out to six BCL leaders, including Rifat, to set up the cattle market. But an argument broke out among them over sharing the earnings from the hasil (market charge collected from the sellers).

A group, led by Sonaimuri upazila BCL former general secretary Rasel Mahmud, attacked Rifat in front of Madina building of the municipality when he was returning home from Sonamani market. They shot Rifat in the leg, said the witnesses.

Rifat was taken to the upazila health complex and later was shifted to Noakhali General Hospital.

Shyamal Uddin, general secretary of Sonaimuri upazila BCL, said Rasel was expelled from the organisation few days ago. He along with his associates attacked Rifat and shot him.

However, Rasel ruled out the allegation and said he is not aware of the shooting and a faction is spreading propaganda against him.

Responding to a tender, a total of six people bid for taking lease of the grounds. Later, a decision was made that the earnings will be distributed equally among all the lessees. But a feud emerged over the money distribution and it was settled through intervention of other senior leaders, he explained.

Harun-Or-Rashid, officer-in-charge of Sonaimuri police station, said they visited the spot. No complaint was lodged in the incident, but the police are looking into it.