Death of BNP leader shot dead, hartal in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday

The leaders of the party have alleged that a BNP leader was shot dead in the attack on the patrolling party of RAB in Ukhia of Cox’s Bazar. District BNP has called a morning-evening strike in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday (08 November) in protest.

He died while undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College (CHMEC) hospital on Tuesday (November 7) morning. Jagir Hossain (37), who died, was the co-organizing secretary of Ward No. 1 of Jaliapalong Union BNP. He died in Painashia village. Alam’s son

RAB filed a case against 42 activists of BNP in the same incident. The deceased Jagir Hossain is accused number 14 in the case filed by RAB at Ukhia police station. General Secretary of Ukhia Upazila BNP Sultan Mahmud Chowdhury was made accused number 1 in the case. RAB filed this case at Ukhia police station on Tuesday morning as the plaintiff. The statement of the case names an unknown number of accused persons.

However, RAB and police said they have no information about the death of anyone injured in the shooting. On Sunday night, the RAB patrol team was attacked. In this incident, RAB filed a case against 42 people in Ukhia police station. Some BNP activists were accused in the case.

The press release signed by district BNP president Shahjahan Chowdhury and general secretary Shamim Ara Sapna on Tuesday evening said, ‘On the night of November 5, armed activists of RAB, police and Awami League broke into the house of Ukhia Upazila BNP general secretary Sultan Mahmud Chowdhury and opened fire. Three BNP activists were injured. BNP leader Jagir Hossain died on Tuesday morning while undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical.

The circular also said, ‘A morning-evening hartal was announced in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday in protest against the indiscriminate firing of BNP activists by law enforcement forces during the democratic movement.’

District BNP Assistant Secretary Hasan Siddiqui said, ‘A BNP leader was shot dead by armed terrorists of Awami League and law enforcement in Cox’s Bazar district. Two people were injured. Besides, after October 28, the police arrested 55 BNP leaders and activists by filing cases in different police stations. A hartal has been called on Wednesday in Cox’s Bazar to protest the killing of BNP leader.

Jagir Hossain’s death was confirmed by his nephew Shihab Uddin. He said, ‘During the attack, the uncle was shot in the stomach. He was then admitted to Chamek Hospital. He died there while undergoing treatment. He has a wife and two children. The body was brought home. Burial will be done after the funeral.

According to local sources, the attack took place last Sunday midnight when RAR’s patrol team went to Painnashia village of Jaliapalong union to arrest BNP leader Sultan Mahmud Chowdhury, the accused in the sabotage case. At that time, hundreds of BNP activists-supporters surrounded the RAB with sticks and threw bricks. At one point, there was an incident of firing on both sides. A RAB vehicle was damaged by brick and mortar. Jagir Hossain and three people were shot.

Cox’s Bazar Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) said. Rafiqul Islam said, ‘I don’t know if anyone was injured in the shooting. However, on Sunday night, an RAB patrol was attacked in Painashia village of Ukhia. The police went to the spot after receiving the information. In this incident, RAB filed a case against 42 people at Ukhia police station on Tuesday morning. I am inquiring about the one who died.’

RAB-15 captain Lt. Colonel AH Sajjad Hossain said, “The miscreants attacked the RAB patrol team in Painashia village last Sunday night. Some RAB members were injured. In this incident, a member of RAB filed a case in Ukhia police station as a plaintiff. But there were no reports of any local injuries during the incident. No one complained about the casualty even to the Ukhia police station. BNP claimed that one person died two days after the incident. Inquiries are being made in this regard.’