Former Jubo Dal leader stabbed dead in city

A former local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's volunteer wing, Juba Dal, was stabbed to death by assailants in the capital's Mouchak area on Monday night, police and party leaders said.

The victim, Mohammad Billal Hossain Talukdar, 57, a former convener of Swechchhasebak Dal's Ward No 19 unit under Ramna Police Station, was attacked in a narrow alley in front of Anarkali Market in Mouchak around 8:00 pm.

He was rushed to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in critical condition and was pronounced dead by doctors at approximately 9:20 pm, according to hospital authorities.

Pappa Sikder, member secretary of Dhaka South unit of Swechchhasebak Dal, confirmed the death to The Daily Observer.

Mohammad Mobarak Hossain Akash, who accompanied the victim to the hospital, alleged that a group of 10 to 12 individuals led by a local Jubo Dal activist named Lutfur attacked Billal and stabbed him on the right side of his chest before fleeing the scene.

Billal was the son of the late Yusuf Talukdar and a resident of Baganbari area of Malibagh. He was involved in the sand and brick trading business, according to family sources.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital Police Outpost Inspector Mohammad Faruk confirmed the death, citing attending physicians. He said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue and the relevant police station has been informed.

Mazahar, Assistant Commissioner of Police of DMP's Ramna Division, said preliminary findings suggest the stabbing stemmed from a local arbitration-related dispute. 

The attackers fled immediately after the incident, and police have launched efforts to identify and arrest those involved, he said.

Police said the investigation is ongoing to determine the exact motive behind the killing and bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to local sources, Billal was arrested in September last year in connection with a case over an attack and vandalism at the office of Sohag Paribahan in Malibagh and was later expelled from the organization following a party decision.