Injured Awami League Leader Dies 26 Days After Assault

An Awami League leader from the Naldanga Upazila of Natore has succumbed to his injuries at the Natore Modern Sadar Hospital, nearly a month after being publicly assaulted. Local Awami League officials have held activists from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its associate organisations responsible for the attack. The opposition has strongly denied these allegations.

The deceased has been identified as 55-year-old Hamidur Rahman, also known as Jahangir, a resident of Kaliganj village. Apart from his political role as the Forest and Environment Secretary for the Naldanga Upazila branch of the Awami League, Rahman was a schoolteacher at the Kaliganj High School.

According to a press release issued by Shariful Islam, the General Secretary of the District Awami League, Rahman had been arrested under the current interim administration. After spending a considerable period in detention, he was released on bail approximately a month ago. The statement alleges that on 3 June, Rahman was targeted at the Kaliganj bazaar by a group of BNP, Jatiyatabadi Juvo Dal, and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists. The attackers reportedly beat him severely, fracturing both of his legs and permanently depriving him of mobility. He was subsequently admitted to the hospital, where he passed away on Monday night at around 9:15 pm.

The local Awami League leadership emphasised that Rahman was physically disabled, making the assault particularly egregious. The press release expressed deep frustration with law enforcement, claiming that the Naldanga police failed to take timely legal action against the perpetrators. The statement noted that the suspects continue to move freely, creating an atmosphere of impunity, which has left the victim’s wife, children, and siblings fearing for their personal safety.

Sakhawat Hossain, the General Secretary of the Naldanga Upazila BNP and a member of the District BNP Convening Committee, firmly dismissed the accusations. He asserted that no BNP or affiliate organisation members were involved in the altercation. Hossain added that he was unaware of Rahman being detained under the current government or the precise medical reasons behind his demise, suggesting that the event was being politicised.

The Naldanga Police Station confirmed that no formal written complaint had been lodged regarding the initial assault. Mohammad Noore Alam, the Officer-in-Charge, stated that the police have launched a preliminary inquiry after learning of the death. He assured that an official investigation would commence immediately upon receiving a written complaint from the family, promising strict legal action against those found responsible.