BNP activist killed in broad daylight

A BNP activist was shot dead in broad daylight by a group of masked assailants in Noakhali’s Begumganj upazila yesterday.

The incident took place around 1.45 pm after Friday prayers near Sujaitpur Purbo Jame Masjid in Alaiyapur union of the upazila.

The victim, identified as Kabir Hossain alias Chhali Kabir (33) of Sujaitpur village of Alaiyapur union, was an active ward-level activist of the BNP.

“There were three cases filed against Kabir,” Begumganj Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Liton Dewan told The Daily Star.

Police were unable to identify or arrest anyone involved in the murder until the filing of this report at 7pm yesterday.

According to eyewitnesses, Kabir was attacked shortly after leaving the mosque.

As he was heading home, five to six masked assailants driving a CNG autorickshaw blocked his way and opened fire on him.

Kabir was shot in the head and fell to the ground. The attackers then hacked Kabir with sharp weapons before fleeing the scene and confirmed his death.

Muhammad Ibrahim, additional chief of police (crime and operations) in Noakhali, said police were trying to arrest those involved and determine the motive behind the murder.