Mother dies upon hearing of son’s injury during alleged BNP-Jamaat clash

The mother of a local BNP activist in Bogura died after hearing the news of her son’s eye being gauged out during an alleged clash with Jamaat-e-Islami members on Monday.

BNP’s Majhagram union President Masud Rana was severely injured during the Monday night clash between BNP and Jamaat members in Nandigram upazila that left at least six people injured, including Masud’s younger brother Rabiul Islam, who is also an activist of the party’s volunteer wing, the Jatiyotabadi Swecchasebak Dal, BNP claimed.

According to the claim, Masud lost his right eye during the clash.

Masud is currently undergoing treatment at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. However, doctors did not verify the claim.

The tragedy occurred when Rabeya Bewa, 65, mother of Masud, learned about her son’s condition. She fell ill soon, and breathed her last on Monday afternoon (9 February).

Her funeral prayer was held on Tuesday night (10 February) around 9pm, family members said.

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The clash occurred in Panshun village of Thalta Majhagram union. BNP activists alleged that tensions escalated after they detained two individuals accused of vote-buying ahead of the election.

Meanwhile, both BNP and Jamaat leaders presented competing accounts of the incident at separate press conferences at the Bogura Press Club yesterday.

Speaking at the BNP press conference, Mosharraf Hossain, the party's candidate for Bogura-4, alleged that the violence began after BNP activists detained two leaders of the ruling Awami League's volunteer wing over accusations of vote-buying in support of a Jamaat candidate.

Mosharraf claimed BNP activists caught two individuals red-handed and informed the police. However, before police action could be taken, hundreds of Jamaat supporters armed with sticks and sharp weapons allegedly arrived on motorcycles and attacked Masud's house, vandalising property and forcibly freeing the detainees, resulting into Masud losing his right eye subsequently.

He said Masud was taken to hospital by his wife Salma Begum and college-going daughter Mim Akhtar. After learning about her son's injury over the phone, Rabeya became seriously ill and later died. Her funeral prayers were held at the family's village home at 9pm on Tuesday.

Mosharraf also accused law enforcement agencies and the district returning officer of inaction during the incident.

Asked about allegations of police inaction, Bogura Superintendent of Police Md Shahadat Hossain said the violence and vandalism took place before police arrived at the scene.

"Police later rescued the injured and took them to hospital," he said.

Deputy director of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, Manjur E Murshed, said Masud Rana had suffered a serious eye injury.

"There is severe trauma to Masud Rana's eye. Several other injured people are also receiving treatment. His eye injury is critical," he said.