Swechchhasebak Dal leader killed in 'BNP factional clash' in N'ganj

NARAYANGANJ, Jan 31 (UNB): A leader of Swechchhasebak Dal has been killed in a BNP 'factional clash' in Trishkania of Kanchan municipality in Rupganj upazila.

The deceased is Azhar Uddin (48), senior vice-president of the Swechchhasebak Dal's Ward No. 9 unit.

Three others -- Sabuj, Ripon and Emrat -- were injured in the clash and are receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Local sources said an internal meeting of BNP and its associate bodies was held at the Ward No. 9 office on Friday evening.

During the meeting, an argument broke out between Ward Swechchhasebak Dal president Sabuj and Jubo Dal activist Rajib Hossain over the placement of names in a programme list.

At one stage, Rajib and his associates allegedly assaulted Sabuj and Azhar, punching them repeatedly.

Azhar fell to the ground after being critically injured.

He was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, where doctors declared him dead.

Rupganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shabzel Hossain said Azhar was killed during a scuffle stemming from a dispute over name placement in a party programme.