C T Online Desk: BNP candidate for Chittagong-8 (Boalkhali and Chandgaon) constituency and convenor of the city BNP, Ershad Ullah, was shot while campaigning on Wednesday evening.
The attack took place in the Hamzarbag area under Panchlaish Police Station. He was later taken to Evercare Hospital in the city in an injured condition. Another associate was also wounded in the shooting.
According to police and local sources, around 4:30pm, Ershad Ullah left his campaign office with party activists to conduct electioneering. As they reached Hamzarbag in the evening, unidentified assailants opened fire, injuring Ershad and one of his companions.
Amirul Islam, deputy commissioner (North) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, said: “Ershad Ullah has been admitted to hospital with gunshot injuries. There are reports that one person has died, but police have yet to confirm it.”
A doctor at Evercare Hospital said Ershad sustained a bullet wound to the left side of his chest and remains in critical condition.
Bayezid Bostami Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Kamruzzaman told Dhaka Tribune: “We have not yet identified who fired the shots. We are also verifying whether anyone was killed.”
Asked about the attack, Mahbub Rana, a member of the city BNP convening committee, told Dhaka Tribune: “It could have been people from the opposing side, but we are not certain yet. He is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital. Doctors have said he is out of danger.”
He added: “Another activist named Sarwar Babla was also shot and is being treated at the same hospital. Initially, doctors said his condition was critical, but they have not confirmed whether he has survived.”
Chittagong city has four parliamentary constituencies. On Monday, the BNP nominated City Convenor Ershad Ullah as its candidate for Chittagong-8 (Boalkhali, Chandgaon, Panchlaish, and part of Bayezid Bostami) constituency.
