Supporter of BNP rebel candidate stabbed to death

A supporter of a BNP rebel candidate from Mymensingh-1 was stabbed to death in the district’s Dhobaura upazila on Friday evening.

Police have detained two people in connection with the murder that took place at Ershad Bazar in Dhobaura around 6:00pm.

The deceased -- Nazrul Islam, 40,  -- was a supporter of independent candidate Salman Omar Rubel from Mymensingh-1 (Haluaghat-Dhobaura) constituency, said Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Md Abdullah Al Mamun.

Quoting locals, the police official said the election office of Salman was inaugurated at Ershad Bazar. While leaving the venue after the inauguration, an altercation broke out between two groups, which later turned into a clash.

During the clash, Nazrul was critically injured after being stabbed. He died at Dhobaura Upazila Health Complex, the ASP said.

Salman alleged, “A planned attack was carried out whilst my activists were leaving after the inauguration of the office. My supporter, Nazrul Islam, was stabbed to death. The attackers are activists of the BNP nominee. We demand immediate arrest of those involved.”

Denying his activists’ involvement in the killing, BNP nominee and party’s Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince said, “If my activists are involved in such a heinous crime, police should arrest them to bring them to book. I have zero tolerance over such incidents.”

Dhobaura Police Station OC Shafiqul Islam said, “The killing occurred during a clash between two factions of BNP. Legal proceedings are underway.”

No written complaint was filed as of yesterday, he said.

ASP Al Mamun said two people have been arrested in connection with the incident, but their identities have not yet been disclosed as verification is underway. 

Meanwhile, agitated BNP supporters, led by Salman, brought out a procession with Nazrul’s body at Dhobaura upazila headquarters yesterday afternoon, demanding immediate arrest of those involved in the killing.

Later, the body was buried at his family graveyard following a namaz-e-janaza after Isha prayers.