A newly elected union parishad (UP) chairman in Gabtali upazila was shot to death by a criminal at his residence at Atbaria village yesterday. The deceased was identified as Tarajul Islam, 43, chairman of Sonaray union parishad and former vice-president of district unit of Bangladesh Chhtra League, the student wing of ruling Awami League. He used to live at a rented house at Rahman Nagour area in the town with his wife and children. He came to his village home on the occasion of Eid.
According to family members, some unidentified people called Tarajul from outside the window of his room around 3am. As Tarajul woke up, the criminals fired gunshots at him and fled the scene. Two of the bullets hit the UP chairman Tarajul - one in the head and the other in one of his hands.
He was first taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Square Hospitals Ltd in the capital following deterioration of his condition.
However, doctors removed the life support around 3 pm, officer-in-charge of Gabtali Police Station Shahid Mahmud Khan said, adding that the reason behind the firing could not be known yet. Police superintendent Asaduzzaman visited the spot yesterday afternoon.