Elderly man dies amid scuffle between BNP, Jamaat supporters in Rajshahi

An elderly man died last evening (8 March) during a scuffle between activists of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in the Sakoa area of Rajshahi's Mohonpur upazila.

The incident occurred around 7:30pm in front of the Upazila Model Mosque in the Sakoa area.

The deceased, Md Alauddin, 65, was the muezzin of the model mosque. Jamaat-e-Islami has claimed him as one of its activists.

Local Jamaat activists briefly blocked the Rajshahi-Naogaon highway after the incident and set fire to a motorcycle belonging to a BNP activist. Police later brought the situation under control.

Abdul Auwal, ameer of Mohonpur upazila Jamaat-e-Islami, said a meeting was held at the model mosque after evening to decide who would lead the Eid prayers.

During the meeting, an argument broke out between Alauddin's sons and several BNP activists, including Omar Faruk, Md Rasel, Abdul Karim and Abdul Quddus.

"At one stage, Alauddin came there to take his sons away. The BNP activists became angry, threw him to the ground and sat on his chest, which caused his death," Auwal alleged, adding that they are preparing to file a case.

Auwal claimed that Alauddin's entire family is involved with Jamaat-e-Islami and that Alauddin himself was also an activist of the party.

However, police said Alauddin himself was a BNP supporter, though his sons are involved in Jamaat politics. Police also suspect that he may have died from a stroke.

Sabina Yasmin, additional superintendent of police and spokesperson of the district police's Special Branch, said, "From the initial information we have received, Alauddin was a supporter of BNP, though his sons are involved in Jamaat politics. It is suspected that he suffered a stroke while trying to stop the argument between the two sides."

She said a blockade was organised on the highway following the incident, but police later brought the situation under control.

Sabina said if anyone files a complaint regarding Alauddin's death, an autopsy will be conducted.

After the incident, he was taken to the Upazila Health Complex, but later family members took the body home.

"If a complaint is filed, police will take the body from the house into custody and send it to the Rajshahi Medical College morgue for autopsy," she added.

After the incident, Alauddin Alo, president of Keshorhat municipal BNP in Mohonpur, visited the scene but faced protests from Jamaat activists.

Attempts to contact him for comment were unsuccessful as his mobile phone was found switched off.