A local leader of JCD, the student front of BNP, was shot dead and 15 others were injured in a clash with Awami League activists in Kanaikhali culvert area of the town during the daylong hartal enforced by local BNP in the district protesting the arrest of Ruhul Kuddus Talukdar Dulu on Monday.
The deceased was identified as Saifuzzaman Sujon, 24, joint secretary of Poura unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.
Witnesses said the clash broke out when local Awami League men obstructed a BNP procession brought out in support of the hartal at about 11 am.
At one stage, the rival groups attacked each other and fired several rounds of gunshot, leaving 15 people injured from both sides.
Of the injured, six people, including Sujon, received bullet injury.
Critically injured Sujon was rushed to Baptist Missionary Hospital in the district town, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Later, police fired several rounds of rubber bullets and released teargas to bring the situation under control. -UNB, Natore
