Lakshmipur BNP Leader Hacked and Shot Dead in Sadar

A local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was brutally killed in Lakshmipur’s Sadar upazila on Friday night, in what police suspect to be a violent confrontation linked to dominance disputes in the area.

The victim, 40-year-old Kalam Johir, served as the general secretary of Ward 4 BNP under Chandraganj Union. According to local party leaders, Johir had been active in local politics for several years and was known in the community despite his controversial past.

The attack occurred around 8:30pm near a small roadside shop close to Johir’s home in Pashchim Latifpur village. Police said a group of unidentified assailants ambushed him, hacking him repeatedly before shooting him at close range. He died on the spot.

Senior law enforcement officials, including the Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Md Rezaul Haque, visited the crime scene shortly after the incident. A bullet shell was recovered beside the body, indicating the use of firearms in the killing.

Police said they are yet to determine the identities of the attackers or the precise motive behind the murder. However, preliminary information suggests that the killing may be linked to longstanding disputes over territorial control and local supremacy.

Acting officer-in-charge Fayzul Azim Noman of Chandraganj Police Station confirmed that Johir had previously been associated with illegal activities, including the drug trade and sand extraction, which may have contributed to the tensions surrounding him.

Local residents reported hearing screams followed by gunshots, after which they found Johir lying motionless on the road. Panic spread across the area, and additional police forces were deployed to prevent further unrest.

Investigators said they are collecting statements from witnesses and reviewing local rivalries to identify those responsible. “The murder appears to be pre-planned. We are analysing all possible motives, including personal enmity and power struggles,” a senior police official said.

Police assured that further details would be disclosed once the investigation progresses.