Sherpur: Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the killing of a party leader during a clash in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur district on Wednesday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Dr Shafiqur Rahman alleged in a Facebook post on Wednesday night that BNP supporters arrived late at a manifesto-unveiling programme organized by the Assistant Returning Officer of the Sherpur-3 constituency. This resulted in them occupying chairs, which triggered an argument and subsequent scuffle. He further claimed that BNP activists later attacked Jamaat supporters with homemade weapons.
The incident left more than 50 Jamaat-e-Islami supporters injured, with three in critical condition. Rezaul Karim, general secretary of the Sreebardi Upazila unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, succumbed to his injuries around 9:20 pm while being transported to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
Dr Shafiqur Rahman expressed his condolences for the deceased and wished for the quick recovery of those who were seriously injured. He emphasized that the public is now watching the law enforcement agencies closely to see how they will respond, questioning the kind of ‘election gift’ the nation would receive. He insisted that those involved in the killing must be arrested swiftly and given exemplary punishment, warning that any delay would not be tolerated by the nation.
Witnesses reported that the clash erupted around 3 pm over seating arrangements during the programme, resulting in many injuries. In the chaos, six motorcycles and over 100 chairs were vandalized and set on fire. The programme was organized by the upazila administration for rival candidates of the Sherpur-3 (Sreebardi-Jhenaigati) constituency at the Mini Stadium ground in Jhenaigati. Leaders and activists of both Jamaat-e-Islami and the BNP have blamed each other for the incident.