One dead in Jhenaidah BNP factional clash

A 65-year-old van driver who was badly injured in a clash between two rival factions of the BNP in Bogura union of Shailkupa upazila in Jhenaidah district died while being taken for advanced treatment on Monday night.

The deceased was identified as Eken Molla.

Shailkupa Police Station Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir Molla told the media that the clash between the two rival groups occurred on Saturday (June 27) morning. Eken Molla was known to be a supporter of Bogura union BNP General Secretary Jamir Hossain.

He was admitted to Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex on June 28. As his condition worsemed, he was transferred first to Kushtia General Hospital and later to Faridpur Medical College Hospital. He eventually died on Monday night while being taken from Faridpur to Dhaka.

The OC said police are in the process of filing a case over the incident, while additional officers have been deployed in the area to avoid further unrest.

According to local residents, supporters of Bogura union BNP President Abdur Awal and General Secretary Jamir Hossain had long been at odds over establishing supremacy in local politics.

The dispute escalated after police arrested Ena Sheikh, a supporter of Jamir Hossain, on charges of possessing yaba tablets last Thursday. Alleging that Matiar, a supporter of Abdur Awal, had tipped off police, Jamir’s supporters attacked him. In retaliation, Awal’s supporters allegedly attacked Jamir’s office.

As the dispute continued, supporters of Jamir Hossain reportedly attacked Awal’s supporters and their homes with locally made weapons on Saturday morning. At least six houses were vandalised during the violence. Eken Molla, a resident of Bogura village, sustained serious injuries in the attack.

Advocate Humayun Babar Firoz, general secretary of Shailkupa upazila BNP, told The Daily Star that both rival groups are affiliated with the BNP. He said the clash stemmed from a power struggle between the two factions as they sought to strengthen their respective positions ahead of the upcoming Union Parishad elections.

He added that the party had already informed both groups that anyone involved in violence or illegal activities would not receive BNP’s support in the Union Parishad elections.