A man was shot dead and 25 people, including two cops, were injured in a triangular clash involving activists of the ruling party and BNP, and police in Chakaria municipality area on Friday evening. The deceased was identified as Zaker Hossain, 48, son of late Akbar Ahmed of Miazirpara in the municipality. Local BNP claimed Zaker as its activist while police said he was a pedestrian. Officer-in-charge of Chakaria Police Station Ranjit Kumar Barua said activists of BNP and its associate bodies brought out a demonstration procession from the bus stand area in the municipality after the namaz-e-janaza for Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal leader Abdul Halim, who was beaten to death by allegedly police, around 3:30pm. At one stage, they ran riot and started vandalising vehicles, he said, adding that they also attacked cops when the law enforcers tried to resist them. Police fired over 100 blank shots to bring the situation under control. In the meanwhile, activists of Awami League and its front organisations, equipped with firearms, got engaged in the clash. Zaker was hit by a bullet during the clash, leaving him dead on the spot. Twenty-five people, including the OC and second officer of the police station Osman Goni, were also injured in the clash. The injured were admitted to different hospitals. Claiming Zaker as their party man, Advocate Shamim Ara Swapna, general secretary of district BNP, alleged that BNP opened fire on the peaceful procession without any provocation.
-With The Independent input
