The body of a ward councillor candidate was recovered from the River Kumar early on Thursday, hours after an Awami League leader and also brother of his opponent candidate was stabbed to death, allegedly by rivals, in Shailakupa upazila in Jhenaidah.
Additional law enforcers were deployed avoid any violence following death of two Awmi League men in Shailkupa municipality happened within four hours.
The first incident took place when the rivals had chopped to death Liakat Hossain Baltu, 45, son of late Moslem Uddin of Kabirpur, also younger brother of Shailkupa municipality councilor, as well as incumbent councilor Shawkat Ali at about 7:00 pm on Wednesday. He was an ex general secretary of Umedpur union Awami League of the upazila.
On the other hand, police d recovered the body of other AL activist, also councilor candidate Alamgir Khan Babu, 45, son of late Jalal Uddin Khan of the village from nearby Kumar River at about 1:00 am on Thursday. Police sent both the bodies for post mortem examination.
Mashiuzzaman, a nephew of Liakat Hossain Baltu, said that they had been coming back from vote campaigning at about 6,30 pm. When they arrived in front of the house of Hazarilal Gosh in the village, a gang of rival 20-25 youths swooped on them and started chopping Baltu.
When Baltu’s elder brother, also councilor candidate Showkat Ali and his men tried to save Baltu, the attackers also copped Shawakat. Both of the injured were taken to Shailkupa upazila health complex, while the attending physicians referred Baltu to Kushtai 250-bed hospital, while he succumbs to his injuries on the way at about 9.30 pm.
Family members including Alamgir Khan Babu’s wife Fazilatunnessa, daughter Sabrina Khatun Rumki and sister Samapti Khan said they assumed that Babu had left the house at about 10 pm. Within a few minutes he informed the family members over his cell phone saying he was marching towards a safe stay and advised them not the open the door of the house even the police men call. At about 1:00 pm their relatives informed them that the Babu’s body was seen floating on the river water at Debtala portion.
Some locals when contacted at Kabirpur requesting anonymity, said conflict between incumbent mayor Kazi Ashraful Azam and his rival, immediately expelled from thr ruling party for his participation as rebel mayoral candidate Toyebur Rahman Khan might lead the both the death incidents.
Shailkupa municipality incumbent mayor, also AL candidate Kazi Ashraful Azam when contacted said supporters of rival Toyebur Rahman Khan had killed Baltu although they had assured of alliance with the Boat symbol. As Babu was afraid of being arrested, he might be dead during fleeing avoid local wrath and police arrest.
Another mayoral candidate claiming himself as an independent candidate Toyebur Rahman Khan said the rivals had killed Liakat Hossain Baltu, while Alamgir Khan Babu had died of cardiac arrest when he was trying to flee hearing the death news of Baltu.
Shailkupa police station officer in charge (OC) Jahangir Alam when contacted said neither any case was filed, nor any arrest made so far following killing of Liakat Hossain Baltu. Further, police will move when the post mortem repot was available from morgue following the death of Alamgir Khan Babu. Mention may be made here that the election of Shailkupa municipality was scheduled for January 16 (Saturday).
