Pedestrian shot dead during AL factional clash in Munshiganj
Seventy-year-old Monir Hossain Mollah was going to the mosque for Isha prayers at Bokultala village of Munshiganj’s Sadar upazila on Monday.

Unfortunately, he never made it there. He got caught in the line of fire during a clash between two factions of local Awami League.

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He was referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital from a local medical facility, where he succumbed to his injuries around 9:30pm on Monday.

Ten others have been seriously wounded during the same time, most of whom are currently undergoing treatment at DMCH.

However, not a single person has been arrested in connection with the shoot-out as of filing this report yesterday evening.

Monir Hossain’s daughter Sonia Akhter was too grief-stricken to talk to this correspondent.

Salma Begum, wife of the deceased’s younger brother, said, “He [Monir] didn’t have any political affiliations. But he got shot anyway.”

When asked, she said they are yet to file a case as they are waiting for the body to arrive.

The clash broke out on Monday evening between the group of Ali Hossain, president of Ward-2 of Adhara Union Awami League, and general secretary of the same unit Suruj Hossain, over establishing supremacy in the area, locals said.

There were a series of clashes, chases and counter-chases, crude bomb explosions and exchange of fire till 8:00pm.

The clash broke out on Monday evening between the group of Ali Hossain, president of Ward-2 of Adhara Union Awami League, and general secretary of the same unit Suruj Hossain, over establishing supremacy in the area, locals said. There were a series of clashes, chases and counter-chases, crude bomb explosions and exchange of fire till 8:00pm.

Eleven people, including Monir, were injured in the incident, they added.

Rest of the injured are AL activists, according to sources.

Dr Ruhul Amin, an emergency department doctor at Munshiganj General Hospital, said the 11 injured came from Bakultala area around 8:00pm. All of them had bullet wounds. They were then sent to DMCH.

Sumon Deb, additional superintendent of Munshiganj police, said, “We came to know that one of the injured died. Police have been deployed in the area. The situation is under control now.”

Munshiganj Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) Md Ansaruzzaman said, “No case has been filed yet. We have talked to the family members. They said they would file a case after the deceased is buried.”

He claimed drives are underway to arrest the culprits.

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