‘Attack by AL men’: Ex-BNP MP dies 24 days after being injured

A former BNP lawmaker, who was injured in an attack allegedly by ruling Awami League men on November 4, died at a city hospital yesterday.

Shahjahan Khan, 75, also the former general secretary of Patuakhali district unit BNP, was elected lawmaker from Patuakhali-3 (Galachipa-Dasmina) in the 6th parliamentary elections.

His son Shiplu Khan said his father was leading a motorcade of party activists on November 4 evening to join the party's rally in Barishal city a day later.

He added that when the motorcade reached Gabua area on Patuakhali-Barishal highway, a group of Jubo League and Chhatra League men attacked them. Several BNP men, including his father, were seriously wounded.

"My father's kidney was badly affected and he suffered injuries to different parts of his body as the Chhatra League and Jubo League men hit him with sticks and iron rods," said Shiplu, also the general secretary of the district unit Jubo Dal, the youth front of BNP.

"Initially, my father took treatment at Patuakhali Medical College Hospital and stayed home for a few days. As his condition was deteriorating, he was admitted to LabAid Hospital in Dhaka on November 23. He died today [yesterday] around 10:30am," said Shiplu.

Contacted, a hospital official said the body was handed over to the deceased's family around noon.

Snehanshu Sarkar Kutti, member secretary of Patuakhali district unit BNP, said they would observe a two-day mourning.

In reply to whether any case would be filed, he said the next course of action would be taken after discussion with the deceased's family.

Contacted, Syed Md Sohel, general secretary of the district unit Jubo League, refused to comment.

This correspondent also tried to reach other top leaders of the district AL, Chhatra League and Jubo League for comments, but failed.