Awami League leader shot dead in Pabna

Assailants have shot dead a local leader of Awami League at Hemayetpur in Pabna.

The deceased is Saidar Rahman Malikha, 50, a member of Pabna Municipal Awami League’s working committee.

 Witnesses said a group of helmeted motorcyclists surrounded him, opened fire and left around 1:30 pm on Friday when he was at a shop in Bangabaria Bazar. 

Saidar's wife, Dilruba Jahan, suspects an influential man, who threatened to kill Saidar over a land ownership dispute, was behind the murder. “How shall I live on with three minor children? I want the killers of my husband to be punished.”

Jahangir Alam, chairman of Hemayetpur union council, said he heard the attack was the result of a longstanding dispute over land among Saidar’s relatives. The dispute turned violent several times and it reached its peak after a company expressed interest in buying the land for a solar power plant, he said.

Masud Alam, an additional superintendent of police, said initial information suggests the murder was linked to past animosity.

Superintendent of Police Akbar Ali Munshi said police were analysing security camera footage to identify and arrest the killers.