Golapganj upazila unit of JCD has called a half-day hartal today protesting the killing.

The deceased, Enam Ahmed, 30, president of Dhakadakkhin union unit of JCD, was a supporter of Makbul Hossain.

The supporters of Makbul Hossain and Inam Ahmed took position from Saturday night over the inauguration of the development work of Golapganj Health Complex that led to daylong clashes on Sunday.

After the health complex administration failed to negotiate a settlement between the two groups, police was deployed in and outside the complex.

Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, who was scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the health complex at 11:30am yesterday, went there at 10:00am and after laying the stone attended a meeting there.

At about 11:00am, he went to attend another programme at Vadeshwar.

Meanhile, supporters of lawmaker Makbul started gathering at a community centre half a kilometre from the meeting place.

At about 11:15, Makbul went to the community centre and after some time they learnt that JCD leader Enam Ahmed was killed in a shootout with their opponents.

Armed with sticks and weapons other than firearms, Makbul's supporters took position in front of the upazila health complex.

Addressing a rally there, Makbul uttered abusive words to Inam Ahmed Chowdhury.

At one stage, Makbul and his men took shelter inside the health complex after Inam Chowdhury's supporters chased them.

The attackers also beat up Prothom Alo's Biyanibazar correspondent with iron pipes and snatched his camera. He is now undergoing treatment at the Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital.

Golapganj Municipality Commissioner Helaluzzaman is also among the 40 who were injured during the clashes.

Police later brought the situation under control.

The locals showed shows to lawmaker Makbul after he came out of the health complex at around 3:00pm under police protection.

Makbul told journalists that he inaugurated the health complex in Biyanibazar but the administration, instigated by Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman, had Inam Ahmed inaugurate the Golapganj Health Complex when he was processing the work of the complex.

"Being the local lawmaker, I cannot give in to this," he said, adding, "I went to the health complex to inform the people about this when Inam Chowdhury's supporters attacked me."

THE DEATH OF JCD LEADER
Noman Uddin Murad along with his accomplices entered the shop of union JCD President Enam Ahmed at around 11:30am. They shot him at point-blank range in the head and stabbed several times, said eyewitness Samsur Rahman.

He succumbed to his injuries at Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital at 12:15pm. Upazila JCD President Moniruzzaman Ujjal blamed Inam Chowdhury's supporters Murad, Jewel, Sohel and Rahim for the killing.

Makbul also blamed Inam Chowdhury for the killing.

Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, on the other hand, termed the killing a 'detached incident' that was the consequence of a previous enmity.

"The criminals killed Enam a long time after the end of our peaceful programme," he said, adding, "The people mentioned as probable killers are not my followers."

"Those people were not even present during the programme and there have been reports of arson on the houses and shops of my followers," he said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Nisharul Arif said the killers and the victim belonged to the two groups who were locked in a clash.