Attacks against the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have shot up in recent days. On Wednesday night, unknown gunmen executed an attack that led to critical injuries for 5 BNP activists. The incident occurred at Chittagong’s Raozan Upazila.
The activists were identified as Abdullah Sumon, Ismail, Khorshed, Rubel and Sohel. Abdullah is the general secretary of Sramik Dal’s Upazila Unit. He is in critical condition. All of them are receiving treatment at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
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According to the locals, the men arrived on the scene on motorcycles and a car. After arriving, they opened gunfire at the BNP activists. The victims started screaming which prompted residents to rush to the spot to rescue them. The assailants fled the scene after the attack. Furthermore, the locals said that the police arrived on the scene one and a half hour after crime.
As per Jasim Uddin Chowdhury, the Upazila BNP President, the victims were returning home after attending a meeting ahead of the party’s “Revolution and Solidarity Day” on Friday. Furthermore, he said that 9 to 10 gunmen participated in the attack.
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The Police have said that they have deployed adequate forces at the spot to prevent any other untoward incident. They also said that an investigation is underway to arrest the culprits. Notably, locals also suspect that a rival faction of the BNP could be responsible for the attack. Two rival factions of the BNP dominate politics in Raozan Upazila.
BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Golam Akbar Khandaker and Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury, the Vice Chairman who is currently suspended by the party, share a bitter rivalry. More than 100 factional wars have occurred at the Upazila, leaving more than 350 people injured. 12 murders have also occurred there since last year.
Gunmen shoot BNP candidate in Chittagong
BNP Candidate for Chittagong-8 parliamentary constituency, Ershad Ullah, suffered a bullet injury while campaigning on Wednesday. According to reports, a probe is underway to arrest the culprits behind the incident.
According to the Police and the Government, Ershad Ullah was not the target. A stray bullet caught him during a melee. The Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) said that gunfire broke out among criminals when Ershad Ullah was campaigning in Chalitatoli.
One individual has lost his life during the gunfire. The Police says that Sarwar Hossain Babla was a top criminal who had recently become a BNP activist. The Police have arrested him multiple times over the years. The cases involved possession of firearms including AK-47, AK-22, magazine and bullets. Babla was the target of the attack, as per the Police.
Two other BNP activists also suffered injuries during the attack. They are undergoing treatment at a hospital. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said in a press statement, “Immediate investigation by the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) indicates that Ershad Ullah was not the target of the attack, but a stray bullet hit and injured him. The government wishes him an early recovery. A full probe has been ordered.”
Madrassa Teacher dies during Gun Attack
On Sunday, a Madrassa teacher died following a gun attack at the BNP in Khulna City. Mamun Sheikh, organising secretary of the Jogipole Union BNP, suffered critical injuries. Another individual is in critical condition. According to reports, the actual target of the bullet that killed Imdadul Haque was Mamun Sheikh himself. However, the bullet missed him and hit the Madrassa teacher.
The gunmen fired 4 shots and hurled 2 bombs in total. BNP activists and relatives later arrived on the scene and rushed the victims to the Khulna Medical College Hospital. Imdadul Haque was a teacher at the Bashitala Nurani Hafizia Madrasa. He had gone to the BNP office to collect donations for a religious gathering.
