Woman dies as Awami League leader's house set on fire over BNP leader's murder

An Awami League leader's house was set on fire in Singra of Natore on Wednesday night after a BNP leader was hacked to death. An old woman named Sabiha Begum, 75, was killed in the incident. She was the wife of the elder brother of former Union unit Awami League General Secretary Alauddin Munshi.

The incident took place at 11pm on Wednesday (January 21) in Kumarpara village of the upazila. Being informed, fire service personnel reached the spot and brought the fire under control.

According to police and local sources, miscreants on three or four motorcycles came and shouted in front of the house of Rezaul Karim, 53, an assistant professor of the history department of Bilhalti Trimohani Degree College and Singra Upazila Zia Parishad member and Natore District Arafat Rahman Koko Smriti Sangsad, at night. When he came out, the miscreants hacked and slit his throat and fled. Although locals rushed to his rescue after hearing his screams, no one could be captured.

About one to one and a half hours after the murder, Rezaul Karim's supporters attacked and set fire to the house of Munshi, killing Sabiha. The house and a shop were completely burnt down in the fire.

Natore Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Ifte Khair Alam said that initially it was learned that the college teacher was hacked to death. After receiving the information, the police reached the spot. Investigations into both the murder and arson are underway.

Singra Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Abdun Noor said that two bodies have been recovered and sent to the Natore Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy. The real reason for the college teacher's murder has not yet been confirmed. A case is under process in this incident.

Additional police were deployed to control the situation after the incident when tension prevailed in the area. The administration said that the culprits will be identified and brought to justice.

Natore District BNP Member Secretary Md. Asaduzzaman said that Rezaul Karim was a member of a BNP-supported organization. However, it is not certain whether this murder was due to political or personal enmity. "We condemn both criminal incidents. We want a fair investigation into the murder of the college teacher and the burning of the old woman. The criminals must be punished."