Man dies after being pushed by Jamaat supporter, BNP alleges

A local BNP leader has died after being pushed allegedly by a Jamaat supporter at a polling centre in Sadar upazila of Khulna.

Dead Mohibuzzaman Kochi was the former office secretary of Khulna city unit BNP and a resident of Haji Mohsin Road By-Lane in the city.

The incident occurred in front of the academic building at Khulna Alia Madrasah around 8:00 am on Thursday, February 12, witnesses said.

Yusuf Harun Majnu, former organising secretary of Sadar Thana BNP, alleged that the madrasah principal has been campaigning for Jamaat since the morning. When Kochi obstructed him, he pushed him, leading to his death.

However, Jamaat leader Mahbubur Rahman said, "The BNP men were forcing Jamaat women activists out of the centre, and when they obstructed them, one of them fell sick, and later, we heard he died."

No scuffle or clash happened there, Mahbubur said, adding that if any such incident had happened, it would be captured in CCTV cameras.

Presiding officer Saiful Islam said the incident occurred outside the centre, and it is not his job.

The police responded swiftly when tension erupted between the two groups and removed them from there, said Sadar police station's sub-inspector Faisal Rafi.

He also said he saw a person being taken out in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw; however, no scuffle or mayhem occurred there.

The man was brought dead to the Khulna City Medical College Hospital, and there were no injury marks on the body, said Dr Partha Roy, emergency medical officer at the facility.

Khulna-3 constituency BNP candidate Nazrul Islam Manju alleged that Kochi died after being hit by a Jamaat leader, demanding the arrest of the madrasah principal, and Jamaat leader Mahabub.

Khulna Alia Madrasah principal Abdur Rahim Mia said when he saw some people forcing women out of the centre, he told them to leave. He also said he did not push anyone.

Arifur Rahman/MSU