A Chhatra League activist, Md Rifatul Islam (22), has allegedly been shot over the sharing of money from a cattle market.

The incident happened at around 9:30pm on Sunday (10 July) below Madina Bhaban in ward 5 of Sonaimuri municipality in Noakhali. A Chhatra League leader is accused of firing the shot, but the leader has denied the allegation.

The injured activist, Md Rifatul Islam, is the son of Md Sirajul Islam of Sonaimuri. He recently returned home from Saudi Arabia. He was first taken to Bajra Hospital and later admitted to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital. He was shot in the left leg.

According to local sources, tension arose between two groups of the upazila Chhatra League over sharing money from the sacrificial cattle market at the Sonaimuri High School ground. At around 9:30pm, 8 to 10 people including Saiful, Joynal, Mizanur Rahman Shoshi, Sabuj and Ridhon came below Madina Bhaban, led by Russell Mahmud, general secretary of the suspended upazila Chhatra League committee. Rifatul Islam was hit in the leg when Russell fired indiscriminately.

Asked about it, Chhatra League leader Russell Mahmud told Jagonews that six people had submitted tenders for the cattle market. They were supposed to be accommodated together, but a dispute arose over the sharing of money. Seniors sat down and settled the matter, and he was present at that meeting. "But I was not present at the clash. I know nothing about it. One side is spreading propaganda to frame me," he said.

Sonaimuri police station officer-in-charge (OC) Md Harunur Rashid told Jagonews that on receiving the news police went to the spot and sent an injured person to hospital. An investigation is under way and legal action will be taken, he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.