Ershad Ullah, the president of Chittagong Metropolitan BNP and the party's nominated candidate for Chittagong-8 constituency, was shot while holding an election rally in Chittagong.

The incident took place at around 5:15 pm on Wednesday (November 5) in the Chalitalli area of ​​Panchlaish police station in the city.

During this, a person named Sarwar Babla was shot and died after being taken to the hospital. Another person named Shanto was shot in the incident.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police North Zone Deputy Commissioner (DC) Amirul Islam confirmed his death at around 7:45 pm on Wednesday (November 5).

A rival terrorist group carried out the attack targeting Sarwar, 43, to expand its territorial control, police sources said. Ershad Ullah, and another man named Shanto were also injured in the attack. Ershad is now out of danger following medical intervention, BNP activists have told reporters.

Local BNP leaders said that after receiving the nomination, BNP candidate Ershad Ullah was leaving the East Mosque in the Chalitali area of ​​the Panchlaish police station after offering Maghrib prayers and participating in the election campaign. At that time, two armed men suddenly opened fire.

Eyewitnesses said that the attackers pointed their weapons at Sarwar Babla's chest and fired several bullets. He immediately fell to the ground. People around him started running in panic. At that time, candidate Ershad Ullah was hit in the leg by a bullet. He was quickly rescued and taken to Evercare Hospital in the capital. At that time, a BNP worker named Shanto, who was nearby, was shot.

Sarwar Hossain Babla is a top terrorist listed by the police. Shanto is the joint convener of the local Ward No. 3 volunteer group.

The initial police assumption is that the attack was the result of Sarwar Babla's old dispute with the jailed Chhota Sajjad group, a top terrorist in Chittagong. The main target was Sarwar Babla, but the BNP candidate was also injured in the gunfire.

Earlier on 30 March, the Sazzad group attempted to kill him in a car at the entrance to Chandanpura of Chawkbazar Police Station on Baklia Access Road. In this, two people named Bakhteyar Hossain Manik and Md. Abdullah were killed. Sarwar Hossain Babla managed to escape from the scene and survived. The suspects arrested over the deaths confessed this to police.

Meanwhile, party standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury condemned the shooting incident of Ershad Ullah.

He said, "It is the responsibility of law enforcement to control terrorists. Such incidents are condemnable and saddening."

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said a group wants to disrupt the election by creating an unstable situation. He urged leaders and activists to keep their morale strong and be patient.

Chittagong Metropolitan BNP member secretary Nazimur Rahman said, "We are going to the hospital. We will be able to provide details about his physical condition later."

Ershad Ullah has been active in Chittagong BNP politics for a long time. He is currently serving as the convener of the metropolitan BNP.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed his deep anger and concern over the attack on Ershad Ullah. He demanded the attackers be identified and arrested immediately.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz confirmed the incident and told the media that three people, including the convener of the city BNP, were shot during an election rally. Police are working to arrest those involved in the incident.

This is the first incident of violence during the election campaign ahead of the 13th parliamentary election.

Earlier, on Monday (November 3) afternoon, Ershad Ullah's name was announced as the BNP's nominated candidate for the Chittagong-8 constituency in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

That evening, at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir released the party's initial list of candidates for the 13th parliamentary election. The names of 237 candidates nominated by the party were announced at the time.

The 13th parliamentary elections will be held in early February next year. The Election Commission said the election schedule will be announced in the first week of next month (December).