Jamaat Leader Dead In Bangladesh Pre-Poll Clashes With BNP Cadres Over Seating, At Least 50 Injured

Last Updated:January 29, 2026, 04:15 IST

Maulana Rezaul Karim, a local Jamaat-e-Islami leader, died after being critically injured in clashes during a pre-poll manifesto event in Sherpur.

Rezaul Karim, secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Sreebardi upazila unit, succumbed to injuries after violence broke out at an election programme. (IMAGE: X/@Drsr_Official)

A Jamaat-e-Islami leader died after being injured in a clash during an election manifesto-reading programme in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur district, Bangladesh, Prothom Alo reported.

The violence broke out on Wednesday afternoon at a programme organised by the local administration, where candidates contesting the Sherpur-3 constituency were scheduled to read out their election manifestos. The clash reportedly erupted over seating arrangements at the venue, escalating into a confrontation between supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami.

The deceased, Maulana Rezaul Karim, was the secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Sreebardi upazila unit and a lecturer in Arabic at Fatehpur Fazil Madrasa. He sustained serious injuries during the violence and later died while being taken to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

According to the upazila administration, supporters of rival political parties had gathered at the venue since morning. An argument broke out over seats in the front rows, which quickly turned violent.

Eyewitnesses told Prothom Alo that several hundred plastic chairs were smashed and thrown during the clash, and multiple motorcycles parked near the venue were vandalised.

At least 50 leaders and activists from both parties were injured in the violence.

Rezaul Karim was initially taken to the Jhenaigati Upazila Health Complex, before being shifted to Sherpur District Hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where he was declared dead at around 9:35 pm, police said.

Mohammad Nazrul Islam, in-charge of the police camp at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, told Prothom Alo that Rezaul Karim was brought to the emergency department in an unconscious state and was declared dead on arrival. His body has been sent for post-mortem examination.

Videos aired by Bangladesh’s DBC News, which have since circulated widely on social media, show the scale of the violence at the venue. One video shows plastic chairs being hurled forcefully across the programme site in what appears to be a chaotic confrontation. Another clip shows injured security personnel, including one with visible head injuries, seeking medical assistance after the clash.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Sherpur-3 candidate Nuruzzaman Badal claimed more than 50 Jamaat activists were injured in the violence, with at least three in critical condition.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman, the emir (President) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, described the attack as a “heinous act of political terrorism” in a post on X. He demanded the immediate arrest and punishment of those responsible and criticised what he called the failure of law enforcement to protect citizens and ensure safe passage for the injured.

Protests were also reported late at night at Dhaka University, where activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing, staged demonstrations demanding justice for Rezaul Karim.

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