The incident took place on Saturday evening in the Anandabazar area of Rajapur union under Sadar upazila. The severely injured BNP leader, Md Hossain Howlader alias Hossain Manager, has been sent to Dhaka for advanced treatment.
The deceased Asif was a resident of Rajapur union and the son of Dulu Miah. He reportedly has multiple cases against him under the Narcotics Control Act. On the other hand, the injured Hossain Howlader is the president of Ward 7 BNP of Rajapur union.
According to local residents and eyewitnesses, there was a prior feud between Hossain and Asif. Their enmity intensified a few days ago when Asif allegedly had Hossain handed over to the police. Later, Hossain went to jail in a political case. Recently, both of them returned to the area after being released on bail.
Local sources said that on Saturday evening, while an arbitration was underway in Anandabazar, Asif saw Hossain speaking and got into an argument with him. At one point, Asif attacked Hossain with a sharp weapon and left the scene.
Later, local residents rescued the injured Hossain and took him to Bhola Sadar Hospital. After providing first aid there, he was sent first to Barishal and then to Dhaka for advanced treatment. At that time, a rumor of Hossain's death spread in the area, prompting an angry mob to catch and beat Asif. Upon receiving the information, police rescued him and admitted him to the hospital.
Mohammad Mamun, a police officer on duty at Bhola Sadar Hospital, said that Hossain was brought to the hospital around 7:45 PM on Saturday and was later sent to Barishal. Meanwhile, Asif was admitted to the hospital around 8:45 PM, where he died while undergoing treatment.
Md Shahjahan Bepari, president of Rajapur union BNP, said they came to know that Asif was involved in attacking Hossain with a sharp weapon, after which local people beat Asif. He further added that Asif was a BNP activist but did not hold any position in the party.
Mohammad Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bhola Sadar Model Police Station, said that it is primarily known that Asif stabbed Hossain following an argument, after which local people beat him. The incident is under investigation. The process of inquest and post-mortem examination of Asif's body is underway. No case has been filed in this connection until the time of writing this report, and no one has come to claim the body.
