1 killed in BNP, Jubo Dal clash at Ctg trade fair; murder case filed

A clash between supporters of BNP and Jubo Dal leaders yesterday at the trade fair in Mirsharai, Chattogram, led to the death of a party activist.

The incident occurred last night at around 11pm near the Mirsharai Stadium and Mirsharai Girls' High School in several phases of violence, leaving at least ten others injured, Mirsharai Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Atiqur Rahman confirmed the matter.

The deceased was identified as Md Munna, 22, son of Abdul Mannan from North Govania in Mirsharai municipality.

The OC said the clash between the followers of Zahid Hossain, BNP's municipal member secretary, and Kamrul Hasan, Jubo Dal's municipal convener, resulted in one death.

Among the injured, Arafat, 23, Asif, 21, Hasan, 21, Sajib, 20, Rahat, 24, Rashed, 22, and Hridoy, 21 have been identified.

Regarding the clash, the police official also said there has been long-standing tension between the two groups, which likely led to this incident. Efforts are ongoing to arrest those involved in the murder, and the situation in the area is currently calm. 

Following the incident, the victim's family filed a murder case naming 11 individuals. 

Police conducted raids at various locations on the same night and arrested four suspects – Mirsharai municipal Jubo Dal convener Kamrul Hasan, 37, Md Nazmus Saqib Maruf, 22, Md Shah Alam 47, and Md. Arman, 26.

According to local sources and police, at around 9:30pm, there was an argument between followers of Jubo Dal's Kamrul and BNP's Zahid at the stadium. 

Following which, about 15-20 supporters of Kamrul reportedly attacked Zahid's followers, who were managing the toll collection and maintaining order at the fair gate.

The conflict escalated into a chase and counter-chase between the groups. 

Zahid's supporters eventually retreated to the west side of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, where more scuffles took place. Later, they regrouped near the Mirsharai Girls' High School. 

Then at 11pm, Kamrul's supporters, reportedly armed with sharp weapons and sticks, attacked Zahid's group. During this attack, Munna, a follower of Zahid, was fatally injured.

Munna was rushed to the hospital, where on duty doctors declared him dead.

Dr Mahmudul Hasan Sarkar, an emergency department physician at the Seba Modern Hospital, said, "Eight injured men were brought to the hospital following the fight. Among them, Munna was critically injured with a deep wound on his right thigh caused by a sharp weapon, leading to excessive blood loss. 

"After providing primary treatment, we referred him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. He was being taken to the Mirsharai Upazila Health Complex but he died on the way."