Sirajganj AL Clash: Journo dies from bullet wounds

Abdul Hakim Shimul

A journalist, who was hit by stray bullets during a ruling Awami League infighting in Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj on Thursday, died yesterday.

Abdul Hakim Shimul, 40, Shahzadpur correspondent of the Daily Samakal, died on his way to Dhaka around 1:00pm, said Miraz Uddin Ahmed, superintendent of police in Sirajganj.

Shimul was being shifted from Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogra. However, his condition deteriorated on his way. He was rushed to Sirajganj's Sakhwat Memorial Hospital where doctors declared him dead, said the SP.

The journalist's 90-year-old grandmother, Rokeya Begum, could not bear the shocking news and had a heart attack, said the family members.

She died.

Protesting the killing, local journalists called a half-day hartal for today in Shahzadpur, said Shafiul Hasan, president of Reporters' Club in the upazila.

Around 12:30pm Thursday, supporters of Shahzadpur Municipality Mayor Halimul Haque Miru, also organising secretary of Sirajganj AL, reportedly beat up AL activist Bijoy Hossain, who was a former vice-president of Shahzadpur College unit Chhatra League, over a previous enmity, police said.

Around 5:30pm, Bijoy and his men brought out a procession in Monirampur area in Shahzadpur upazila town, protesting the assault. When the procession reached near Mir's house, bullets were fired from the licenced shotgun of Miru inside his house. Then the followers of Miru and Bijoy were locked into a clash, said SP Miraz. 

At least 10 people were wounded in the clash. Four of them, including Shimul, suffered bullet injuries. Shimul had gone there to cover the incident.

He was rushed to Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. The other injured were also admitted to different hospitals and clinics. 

Police later seized the firearm from Miru's house.

Bijoy filed a case against Miru and his two brothers on Thursday night.

Police then arrested two brothers of Miru. They are Habibul Haque Mintu, secretary of Pabna district unit Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), and Halimul Haque Pintu, an AL activist.

SP Miraz said police were trying to arrest Miru, who went into hiding soon after the incident. 

Talking to The Daily Star, Mohammad Azad, elder brother of Shimul, demanded that the culprits are caught and punished.

Several journalists also demanded immediate arrest of the killers.