Housewife shot dead in Pabna BNP factional clash

A housewife was shot dead and 10 people were injured in a violent clash between two rival factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Sujanagar upazila of Pabna district on Monday morning.

The deceased was identified as China Khatun, 40, wife of Shukur Ali, a resident of Vitbila West Para village. She died on the spot after being struck by a bullet during the clash.

According to police and local sources, the violence stemmed from a long-standing dispute over local dominance between supporters of Rafiul Islam Raja, a former president of Hatkhali Union Chhatra Dal, and a group led by Islam Pramanik, a BNP supporter from the same area.

Tensions between the two groups escalated following a clash late Sunday night, with both sides remaining on edge. 

The supporters of the two groups swooped on each other with locally made sharp weapons in the morning. During the clash gunshots were fired and several houses were vandalised, leaving China dead and 10 others injured on the spot.

Locals rescued the injured and took them to Sujanagar Upazila Health Complex and Pabna General Hospital. 

Habibur Rahman, a former union parishad member of ward no. 9, said both groups involved in the violence are affiliated with the BNP.

Confirming the matter, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sujanagar Circle) Sadiq Ahmed said that law enforcement personnel were deployed promptly after receiving information about the incident and managed to bring the situation under control.

The body has been recovered from the scene, and an investigation into the incident is underway, he said, adding that further details will be provided after the inquiry.

Alamgir Hossain Nabil/MHK