Six killed in clashes in Nilphamari, Noakhali

NILPHAMARI: At least two people have been killed and over 150 others were injured when Awami League activists clashed with supporters of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in Nilphamari, report agencies.

The clash erupted around 4pm on Saturday at Tupamari Union's Ramganj bazar area at the district's Sadar Upazila when the Opposition activists attacked the convoy of ruling party MP Asaduzzaman Nur, police said.

At least 50 motorcycles, six SUVs and three microbuses were set on fire by the Opposition supporters at the time, Assistant Superintendent of Police of Nilphamari Sadar Circle Shafiul Islam told reporters.

The deceased were identified as Tupamari Union's Krishak League unit chief Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, 55, and Jamaat activist Abu Bakar Siddique, 42.

Nilphamari town Jamaat unit chief Al Faysal Abdul Latif confirmed Siddique's identity.

Asaduzzaman Nur, a renowned actor, was unharmed. The injured have been admitted to Nilphamari Sadar Hospital.

Shafiul Islam said Nur was at the Union to take stock of the situation following the rampage unleashed by Jamaat activists on Friday, a day after Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Molla was hanged for his 1971 war crimes.

Meanwhile, three activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, were killed as they clashed with law enforcers in Companyganj upazila headquarters of Noakhali district on Saturday.

Two of the deceased were identified as Saiful, 23, and Russel, 40.

Police and witnesses said Jamaat-Shibir activists brought out a procession in the upazila headquarters around 3:30 pm protesting the execution of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah for his war crimes.

The unruly Jamaat-Shibir men set fire to the upazila land and family planning offices while marching towards Bashurhat.

As police chased them, they exploded several crude bombs and pelted brickbats towards police, triggering a fierce clash. The clash continued for over two hours that left three people dead on the spot and 50 others, including five cops, injured.

Contacted, Police Super of the district Anisur Rahman confirmed the death of the three people.

BGB members have been deployed in the upazila headquarters to fend off further trouble.

Meantime, another report from Laxmipur adds: A local leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was shot dead by some unidentified miscreants at his residence in Uttar Temuhni area in the district town early Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Dr Fayez Ahmed, nayeb-e-ameer of district unit Jamaat.

However, Ahmed's wife Marjia Foyez claimed that Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members broke into their house around 12:00am and ransacked all the rooms in the name search.

Later, they took him to the rooftop of the building and shot him to death, she claimed.

Dr Joynal Abedin, a medical officer of sadar hospital, said the body with injury marks in the legs and head was found lying on the hospital premises at about 1:40 am.

On the other hand, local unit Jamaat demanded judicial investigation into the incident.

Protesting the incident, Jamaat called a daylong hartal in the district for Tuesday.

A tense situation has been prevailing in the town following death of the Jamaat leader.

However, no version of Rab or police about the incident could be found.