Teenager shot during BNP factional clash
A 16-year-old boy suffered bullet injuries during a clash between two groups of BNP over the control of the local jhut trade (wasted scraps of fabric) in Ashulia on the outskirts of the capital yesterday afternoon.
The injured is Kaptan Mia, 16, son of Md Dalim of Habiganj district, and a salesman at a local shop.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Another person, Sheikh Abu Jafar, was also injured during the clash after being hit by a brick.
The incident took place on the Jamgara-Bagbari regional road adjacent to Jamgara intersection around 3:00pm, said police.
HM Asaf Uddaula Rizvi, assistant manager of Ashulia Women and Children Hospital, told The Daily Star that a teenager named Kaptan Mia is being treated in their hospital. He was shot in the back.
Locals said Bakul Bhuiyan, vice-president of Ashulia Thana Tati Dal, had been taking jhut (scrap fabrics) from Preeti Composite Textile Limited, a concern of the Preeti Group, in Jamgarh area of Ashulia for a long time.
Recently, former Jubo Dal leader Sharif Chowdhury, a follower of ex-BNP MP (Dhaka-19) Dewan Md Salahuddin Babu, was trying to take control of the trade.
Yesterday, when Bakul's men were collecting the fabrics from the factory, Sharif's men tried to snatch a jhut-laden truck resulting in a chase and clash between the two sides.
Several rounds of gunfire were exchanged at the time.
Salahuddin Babu and Sharif Chowdhury were called several times on their mobile phones for comments but they did not pick up.
Locals claimed although the factory had an agreement with Bakul Bhuiya, his son Rony Bhuiya, a local Jubo League leader, basically controlled the jhut trade.
Rony's men were also present during the clash.
Contacted, Bakul told The Daily Star, "I have been engaged in the jhut trade of the factory for the last six months. This morning, Sharif Chowdhury's people started gathering in front of the factory. Later, I informed police and my men left the factory with police assistance.
"As the jhut truck reached Sharif Chowdhury's house, his men started shooting from the roof of the house and at one point set the truck on fire. Two of our people, including a labourer named Manju, were shot."
Rakibul, deputy general manager of Preeti Composite Textile Limited, said there was no trouble in their factory premises. "I heard that there was trouble outside the factory."
"A person named Bakul Bhuiyan has a contract with us," he added.
Md Nur Alam Siddiquee, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station, said police are trying to identify those involved in the incident.
"We have received video footage of the incident," he added.
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