At least five people, including three children and two Rohingya refugees, were injured in a shooting incident during a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) election campaign in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, on Wednesday evening.
According to Teknaf Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Saiful Islam, the incident occurred around 8:00pm on a road adjacent to a Rohingya refugee camp in the Aliakhali area under Hnila Union.
“The victims were hit by pellets, which likely reduced the severity of their injuries,” the OC said.
The injured were identified as Bacha Mia (45) of Mochhni village in Ward 9 of Hnila Union; Shahab Uddin (11), son of Nurul Islam of Aliakhali village in Ward 8; Nusrat Jannat Rafi (18 months), daughter of Abdul Jalil from the same area; Abdur Rahman (37), son of Nur Hossain from Block D/5 of Rohingya Camp-25; and Mohammad Jisan (13), son of Nurul Haque from Block D/4 of the same camp.
Police said a BNP campaign vehicle bearing the party’s election symbol, the sheaf of paddy, had been travelling along the road while playing campaign music.
“Three to four minutes after the vehicle left the area, gunfire erupted,” OC Saiful Islam said.
Preliminary investigations suggest that a local criminal, identified as Jalal, allegedly opened fire while under the influence of alcohol, he added.
A police operation is underway to arrest the suspect.
Eyewitnesses said the shooting occurred suddenly, leaving five people wounded. None were initially reported to be in critical condition, and all victims were taken to Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital that night.
Hospital sources said the BNP campaign had gathered around 20 to 25 supporters on the roadside, where they were dancing and chanting slogans ahead of the upcoming 13th parliamentary election in the Cox’s Bazar-4 constituency. As bystanders gathered to watch, gunshots were fired, triggering panic and a stampede.
Bacha Mia, who sustained injuries to his hand, said he was working on wedding decorations near a house in Aliakhali when the incident occurred.
“At first, I thought it was the sound of firecrackers. Later, I realised I had been shot. I could not identify who fired the shots,” he said.
Abdur Rahman, who was shot in the left leg, said he collapsed at a roadside shop after hearing gunfire following evening prayers.
Later, two of the injured were reported to be in critical condition and were referred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.
Nusrat Jannat Rafi’s mother, Samira Begum, said her infant daughter was shot in the back while standing at the doorway of their house. Family members also reported that Shahab Uddin sustained a gunshot wound to his waist.
