Injured Awami League leader dies weeks after alleged assault

A local leader from the banned political party, the Awami League, has succumbed to his injuries at the Natore Modern Sadar Hospital. The deceased had been undergoing extensive medical treatment for nearly four weeks following a violent public assault at Kaliganj Bazar in the Naldanga Upazila. Local Awami League officials have pointed the finger directly at members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its associate wings for the fatal encounter.

The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Hamidur Rahman, popularly known as Jahangir, a resident of Kaliganj village. Apart from serving as the Forest and Environment Secretary for the Naldanga Upazila branch of the Awami League, Hamidur was a respected teacher at Kaliganj High School.

According to a press statement issued by Shariful Islam, the General Secretary of the District Awami League, Hamidur had previously been detained by law enforcement during the tenure of the interim government without any specific charges. Following a lengthy period of incarceration, he was released on bail approximately one month ago. The statement alleges that on 3 June, Hamidur was cornered at Kaliganj Bazar and severely beaten by activists belonging to the BNP, Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal. The assault was so severe that both his legs were fractured, rendering him completely immobile. He fought for his life for twenty-six days before passing away at 9:15 pm on Monday.

The Awami League’s press release emphasized that Hamidur was physically disabled, making the targeted violence even more egregious. The statement criticised the Naldanga Upazila police for failing to initiate legal action or arrest the named suspects, who reportedly continue to move freely in the area. This apparent lack of accountability has left the victim’s wife, children, and siblings feeling profoundly vulnerable and unsafe.

Conversely, Sakhawat Hossain, the General Secretary of Naldanga Upazila BNP and a member of the District BNP Convenor Committee, has categorically denied these allegations. He maintained that no affiliate or member of the BNP was involved in any assault on Hamidur. Furthermore, Hossain disputed the claim regarding his prior arrest under the current administration and stated that the party remains entirely unaware of the actual medical causes behind his death.

The leading our representative, contacted Mohammad Nure Alam, the Officer-in-Charge of Naldanga Police Station, regarding the incident. The police official stated that the department had not yet received any formal written complaint from the aggrieved family concerning the alleged beating. He assured the public that once an official complaint is lodged, a thorough investigation will be conducted to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice under the law.