DHAKA: Three activists from Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party were shot dead in clashes with security forces yesterday, officers said, amid allegations forces are targeting opposition supporters for execution.
Police said the three were killed during two separate gun battles between security forces and bomb-throwing activists from the Jamaat-e-Islami party in two southeastern towns — clashes that also left several officers injured.
“They threw bombs at us and the joint forces opened fire in self-defence. A gun fight ensued,” a local police chief, Shahjahan Ali, said.
Jamaat said the men were arrested and taken to remote places where they were shot dead execution-style. The party said the deaths were the latest in a series of such killings.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a crackdown on opposition unrest after her victory in a January 5 general election. Jamaat said at least 59 opposition activists and party officials have now been shot dead since December 12 when it says the killings started
Yesterday, one of the bodies, that of a Jamaat official and teacher, was found near a school at Noudaga village near the town of Kotchandpur. Police said two young Islamists accused of murdering a ruling party official were also shot dead during gunfights between security forces and Jamaat activists in the town of Debhata. Jamaat denied any gunfight, saying the pair were targeted for killing.
AFP
