Two teenage boys were run over by a vehicle and killed amid a clash between two factions of the Awami League in the Adabor area of Dhaka’s Mohammadpur.
The dead were identified as Arif, 17, and Shujon, 15. They were killed on Noboudoy Housing Road area, eyewitnesses said.
A local guard named Abdul Jabbar said, “Some youths came near the iron gate on a pickup van, when a group noticed the pickup and attacked it. People began to run around.”
The pickup tried to make a hasty getaway and the two boys were caught beneath the wheels. Arif was taken to Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Arif’s brother Alauddin said “My brother was on his way to a Jubo League programme. He tried to flee when the car was attacked and was caught underneath the wheels.”
Shujon was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he later died.
Clashes between the two groups also occurred on Sunibir Housing Road 10 and the Shampa Market area. At least 20 others were injured.
Fighting broke out between supporters of local MP Jahangir Kabir Nanak and prospective candidate Sadek Khan, locals said.
Nanak, the joint general secretary of the central party, also plans to run for the Awami League nomination. Sade Khan, the general secretary for the Dhaka City North branch of the party, is planning to compete against him.
Adabor Police Station OC Kawser Ahmed was quoted by bdnews24.com at 10:45 am as saying, “Two factions of the Awami League have clashed. The situation has calmed. We are on the alert and are monitoring the situation.”
Sadek Khan said “The attack on my supporters was led by the Jubo League’s Tuhin.”
Adabor Jubo League Convener Ariful Islam Tuhin is known as a follower of Nanak.
He denied the allegations.
“It is clear who is responsible for attacks on current MPs. The BNP or Jamaat. The attack was intended to cause unrest and sow discord amongst the Awami League,” Tuhin said.
The Awami League has begun selling nomination applications for the upcoming 11th Parliamentary Election. Candidates have begun picking up the applications from the party’s headquarters in Dhanmondi, accompanied by their supporters.
