AL leader hacked to death in Pabna

A local Awami League leader was hacked to death by his rivals in Pabna's Anonto Bazar area yesterday evening over protesting collection of extortion money.

The victim is Bokul Sheikh, 45, member of Dogasi Union Parishad and also the joint secretary of ward-7 AL.

AL leaders claimed that supporters of local influential Mokhlesur Rahman killed Bokul over protesting collection of extortion money from drivers of three-wheelers.

Police, however, said a dispute over control of Anonto Bazar area led to the killing.

Nasim Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Pabna Sadar Police Station, said there had been a long-standing enmity between Mokhlesur and Bokul over control of the area.

A clash broke out in Anonto Bazar area between supporters of the two men yesterday evening. At one stage, Mokhlesur's men attacked Bokul with sharp weapons. They hacked him mercilessly, leaving him critically injured.

Bokul was taken to Pabna General Hospital where he died of his wounds around 7:00pm, the OC added.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Abdul Ahad Babu, office secretary of Pabna district AL, said Mokhlesur's men had been collecting extortion money from the drivers of battery-run three-wheelers in Anonto Bazar area for long.

Bokul protested collection of extortion money. Angered by this, Mokhlesur's supporters hacked Bokul to death, he added.

Ahad demanded exemplary punishment for the killers.

The OC said they were investigating the incident.