Bangladesh MP assassinated

Manjurul Islam, a member of the Bangladesh Parliament for the Gaibandha Sundarganj constituency, has died after being shot by three gunmen who attacked him at his home in Bamandanga of Sundarganj in northern Bangladesh. Mr Islam was injured in the shooting, receiving two gunshot wounds to the chest, and was taken to the Rangpur Medical College, where he later died from his injuries.

Mr Islam was a member of the governing Awami League. Protestors took to nearby streets as news of his death emerged. The MP had been arrested in October 2015 after it was alleged that he had shot eight year old Shourav, son of Sazu Miah of Gopalcharan, but he was released on bail and no further action was taken.

Prof Bimal Chandra Roy of Rangpur Medical College Hospital told BBC Bengali that the MP had been shot five times, apparently from close range.

It is thought that the gunmen made their getaway by motorbike. The police appear to have no clues as to their identity, although eye witnesses to their escape have described them as “young”. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

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