A union parishad (UP) member was attacked with sharp weapons followed by one of his rivals being similarly attacked, in an apparent sequel to a longstanding feud over establishing political dominance in Kalia Upazila in Narail. 

The injured UP member was identified as Enamul Haque Ena, 50, a member of ward no.7 of Purulia Union, also a former cooperative affairs secretary of Kalia upazila BNP. 

A person named Himu Sheikh (40) from Ena’s rival camp was then attacked with sharp weapons and the group leader Khairul Islam’s house was vandalized.

Two assailants hacked Enamul indiscriminately around 2pm on Sunday, according to locals, when he was returning home from the mosque.  

The assailants fled the scene leaving him seriously injured after the intervention of locals.  

He was rushed to Narail Modern Sadar Hospital and later transferred to Jessore Medical College and Hospital in critical condition.

According to the police and locals, there had been enmity between Ena and Khairul’s group over establishing dominance in the area. 

After Safu Sheikh, the candidate from Khairul Islam’s group, lost to Ena in the UP election last year, the conflict took a major turn. 

Himu Sheikh was attacked around 4pm, two hours after the attack on Ena. People from the Ena group vandalised and looted Khairul Islam’s house in another incident.

Sheikh Tasmeem Alam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kalia Police Station said, they are investigating the attacks. 

“Additional police have been deployed in the area. The situation is calm now,” he added.

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