A child and a political activist were killed in a clash between two rival groups of Bangladesh Jubo League (BJL) and Bangladesh Chatra League (BCL), on Monday noon, following a clash over securing a Bangladesh Raiway tender. The clash took place between the groups of AL city committee president Alhaj ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and expelled AL leader AZM Nasiruddin at the Bangladesh Railway (Eastern Zone) headquarters in Seven Road Point area under Kotowali thana in the port city. The victims were identified as Shaju Palit (28), a BJL activist belonging to Mohiuddin’s group, and Md Arman Hossain (8), student of a local madrassa.
Additional deputy commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) (Kotowali Zone) Mostak Ahamed told journalists that Md Arman Hossain had died on the spot, while Shaju Palit died on his way to a hospital.
Sources said that police have so far arrested 52 persons, including Chhatra League’s central committee assistant secretary Saiful Alam Limon, Chittagong University unit’s organising secretary Alamgir Tipu, cultural affairs secretary Jamir Uddin and Chittagong Commerce College vice-president Hasmat Ali Rasel, in this conenction.
They also said Monday was the scheduled day to drop three tender papers of Bangladesh Railway, which cost around Tk. 1.5 crore. Two rival groups went to the Bangladesh Railway (Eastern Zone) headquarters at that time.
Notorious BJL cadre Helal Akber Babor was not present at the spot, while another notorious goon Saiful Alam Limon was present with arms at the spot.
However, after dropping the tender papers for renovation of Feni Railway Station and construction of a two-level crossing in Comilla, some cadres of Limon invited Babor’s cadres for tea at a nearby tea stall.
They soon got engaged in an altercation over the tender. Limon’s cadres started to beat up the cadres of Babor. They also opened fire on Babor’s cadres. The latter had no option but to leave the spot. But, Shaju Palit, a cadre of Babor, could not escape and was caught by Limon himself.
Limon, a goon of AZM Nasir’s group, shot Shaju Palit in the head, according to witnesses. Babor’s cadres returned within a very short time and opened fire at the cadres of Limon. A firefight ensued, when Limon’s cadres fired on eight-year-old Md Arman Hossain, who was a student of a local madrasa, to create panic in the area. They fled the spot soon after this.
Kotowali Police Station sub-inspector Muhibur Rahman filed a case (no-55) with his own police station in this connection. Police submitted the arrested persons before the court today on Tuesday and sought seven days’ remand for them, said Kotwali Police Station OC Mohiuddin Selim.
According to sources, Didarul Alam Didar, a notorious cadre of BCL and alleged right hand of AZM Nasir Uddin, owned a company, named Royal associates. Limon went to the railway headquarter to secure the tender on behalf of Didarul Alam Didar.
However, BCL Chittagong city committee leaders said Didar and Limon do not belong to their party.
Helal Akber Chowdhury Babor, who claimed to be a central member of BJL and cadre of Mohiuddin Chowdhury, is also a known criminal.
When asked, Alhaj ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury told reporters, “No political activist has the license of terrorism. Law enforcement agencies will take action against all criminals, irrespective of their creed and colour.”
-With The Independent input
