Cumilla councilor, associate shot dead at their office

Cumilla City Corporation's ward no. 17 councilor Md Sohel and his associate HaripadCollected

Cumilla City Corporation's ward no. 17 councilor Md Sohel has been shot dead at the city's Pathariapara office. His associate Haripad has also been killed in the incident.

The incident took place on Monday afternoon. Four others, who received bullet injuries, are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Cumilla Medical College Hospital director Md Mohiuddin confirmed death of two to Prothom Alo.

Md Sohel, 52, was a member of Awami League in Cumilla Metropolitan area and president of ward no. 13. He was also the panel mayor of Cumilla City Corporation. He lived in Sujanagar area. He was elected councilor in 2012 and 2017. In the second tenure, he was the panel mayor.

Md Sohel is the son of Shahjahan Mia in Sujanagar area. He is the second among six brothers and four sisters. He has wife, a son and two daughters.

Police said councilor Md Sohel was sitting at his council office at Pathariapara Three Star Enterprise area at around 4:30pm. At the time a group of miscreants with black musk entered the office and opened fire. Two bullets hit his head, two bullets on his chest and four other bullets on his belly and other parts of the body. At the time fiver others also received bullet injuries. They were rescued and taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital. Sohel and his associate Haripad, 35, died there.

While visiting the spot, it was found hundreds of people were demonstrating on the Pathariapara road. RAB and police were trying to remove the agitated demonstrators. Blood was found on the chair of Sohel in the office. Chairs in the office were broken.

District police super Faruk Ahmed said, "I have heard councilor Sohel died. We are tackling other things."

Cumilla metropolitan Awami League general secretary Arfanul Haque Rifat said, "At least 10 bullets were fired at Sohel. I held a meeting with him on Saturday. Sohel was very popular in his locality. We want justice of the killing".