A leader of the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jubo Dal, was stabbed to death in an attack by rivals in Pabna Sadar Upazila on Saturday night.
The deceased has been identified as Mehedi Masud Pavel Molla, 40, joint secretary of the Goyeshpur union unit of Jubo Dal. He was the son of late Muslem Uddin Master.
According to Abdus Salam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Pabna Sadar Police Station, the attack occurred around 10 pm. The police confirmed the death and recovered the victim’s body from the hospital after inspecting the scene. The incident appears to be a result of an ongoing rivalry, with the authorities investigating further.
Pavel’s colleague, Elias Ahmed Himel Rana, convener of Jubo Dal, confirmed the victim’s designation.
The attack also left another individual severely injured. Molla alias Imran, 24, son of Sabur Molla from the same area, was severely injured and was transferred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for further treatment.
According to locals, the stabbing was a fallout of a dispute that originated earlier at Islampur market over drug trafficking. Rival factions, fueled by past enmity, launched the attack, with Pavel and Sajib being seriously injured. Locals managed to rescue them and took them to Pabna General Hospital, where Pavel was declared dead by the on-duty doctor.
The police have named at least nine suspects from the same area in connection with the attack, and efforts are underway to apprehend them.
