Injured rickshaw puller dies

RAJSHAHI, March 12 (UNB): A rickshaw puller who was stabbed during a clash between two factions of the BNP in Rajshahi city, has died.

He succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday evening around 7:30pm at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), five days after being admitted in critical condition.

The deceased, Golam Hossain Roky (48), was from Sahebpura village in Laksham upazila of Cumilla. He lived in a rented house in the Darikhurbona of Rajshahi city with his wife and earned a living by driving a rickshaw.

Dr Shankar K Biswas, spokesperson for RMCH, said, "Rickshaw puller Golam Hossain had been stabbed in the chest and had head injuries. He did not regain consciousness after the incident and died in the evening."

The conflict between the two BNP factions began on the evening of March 7 in the Darikhurbona area of the city. The clash erupted after a local Awami League leader's apartment was raided the night before, and his brother was handed over to the police. The BNP groups clashed for nearly four hours, during which there were explosions of cocktails and gunfire.

Eyewitnesses stated that Golam Hossain was walking towards his rented house after leaving his rickshaw when one faction mistook him for a member of the opposing group and stabbed him. He was later rushed to the hospital.