AL leader shot dead in Laxmipur

A local leader of Awami League was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Chandraganj area under Sadar upazila of the district yesterday.

The deceased was Md Omar Faruque, 45, vice-president of Chandraganj union unit of AL and convener of Chandraganj Thana Santrash Nirmul Committee. He was the son of Abdul Mannan.

Quoting witnesses, police said Faruque was gossiping with locals at a tea stall beside his house at Latifpur village when masked assailants riding on a CNG-run autorickshaw swooped on him at around 9:00am.

At one stage, they dragged him out of the tea stall and fired several shots at his chest before fleeing the spot on the autorickshaw. 

Faruque succumbed to his injuries while he was being taken to Noakhali General Hospital.

Meanwhile, protesting the incident, locals and AL leaders and activists of the area brought out a protest rally demanding arrest of the attackers.

Following information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge (OC) of Chandraganj Police Station, said police recovered the body and sent it to Laxmipur Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Police were trying to apprehend the attackers, the OC added.

Family members of the deceased AL leader said Faruque was killed as he took a strong stance against the criminal gangs and armed cadres in his speech during the inauguration of the new complex of Chandraganj Police Station on Monday.