Killing of party man by 'hired gang' flares up BNP feud

Taher Uddin Tahu, 45, was shot dead at about noon when he was reading newspaper at his business centre at Hilchia Bazar in Bajitpur.

As bullet-hit Taher fell on the floor, armed cadres Russel, Sadek and Bhuttu stabbed him severely and escaped, police said quoting witnesses. Taher was also chairman of Gurui Union Parishad.

ASP Circle of Bajitpur-Nikli upazila Nazrul Islam later said, killer Russel who was arrested from the spot admitted that he was a cadre of local lawmaker.

Taher's wife Josna Akhter filed a murder case with Bajitpur police station yesterday accusing 22 people including lawmaker Mozibur Rahman Monju and Hilchia Union Parisad (UP) chairman Abul Fazal, police said.

Bajitpur police arrested another accused--Salam, 25--from Hilchia yesterday, police said.

Russel and Salam were produced before a court in Kishore-ganj yesterday. The court rejected their bail prayer and sent them to jail, court sources said.

BNP is divided into two factions in Kishoreganj-6, one led by lawmaker Manju and the other by BNP nomination seekers Prof Tufazzal Hossain Badal, Salehuzzaman Khan Runu and Sheikh Mojibur Rahman Iqbal.

The factions are at odds for long, clashing with each, damaging each other's party offices, vandalising meeting venues and holding separate party programmes. Taher belonged to the faction opposed to the lawmaker.

Monju's rivals also formed a committee styled, "Save Bajitpur BNP from Manju".

On September 20, Manju's rally was vandalised by his rivals including Taher, locals said.

On September 18, some party men allegedly led by Manju vandalised Prof. Tufazzal Hossain Badal's party office, torched three motorbikes on its premises and damaged a TV set and chairs inside, Badal alleged earlier.

Protesting this, Prof. Tufazzal Hossain Badal, Salehuzzaman Khan Runu and Sheikh Mozibur Rahman Iqbal called on a public meeting at the upazila headquarter on September 23 while Manju called another public meeting at the same time.

The administration imposed Section 144 there to avert clash.

Talking to this correspondent, BNP insiders and political circles said, the rivalry will worsen and may lead to more killings if BNP high command does not intervene immediately to resolve the dispute.