Unidentified individuals stab local AL leader in Rajshahi

A local Awami League leader was attacked and hacked by unidentified individuals in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi yesterday night (9 January).

The victim, Tozammel Haque, 42, is the general secretary of Ward no 9 of Charghat municipality unit Awami League. He is the son of the late Azahar Ali Pramanik of Pirojpur village in the municipality.

Afzal Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Charghat Model Police Station, said that the police were dispatched to the scene after receiving the report.

"However, before the police arrived, Tozammel Haque was already taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. As of Friday afternoon, no formal complaint had been filed with the police."

The OC also said once a complaint is received, an investigation will be carried out to identify the culprits and take legal action.

According to locals, a dispute had occurred earlier in the day between Rustam Ali of Pirojpur village and Mamunur Rashid from the same area. The two men had a confrontation at Kakramari market, and Tozammel Haque sided with Rustam Ali during the argument. This led to rising tensions between the two parties, which caused people at the market to intervene and remove them.

Quoting locals, the OC said that later in the evening, as Tozammel Haque was returning home from Kakramari market on his motorcycle, miscreants blocked his path at the Echerer Battala area. They then attacked him, hacking him with sharp weapons before fleeing the scene.

Later, locals took him to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Shankar K Biswas, a spokesperson for the hospital, said that Tozammel Haque sustained multiple injuries, including to his legs, left hand, chest, and stomach.

"Considering the severity of his condition, he was transferred to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation in Dhaka on Friday morning for further treatment," he added.