A violent clash during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s rally claimed the life of a 58-year-old man, Siraj Sikder.

People attended the rally said the Bangabandhu Udyan venue became a battleground as supporters of Shammi Ahmed and independent candidate Pankaj Debnath engaged in a heated confrontation.

Siraj, hailing from Hjla Upazila was declared dead upon reaching the hospital.

The clash unfolded between Shammi, stripped of her Awami League candidacy due to dual citizenship, and Pankaj, an incumbent Awami League MP now running independently after being denied the party’s nomination.

Conflicting narratives surround Siraj's demise, with both factions vehemently claiming him as their supporter.

Bhutto Molla, former general secretary of Mehendiganj Upazila Jubo League and a Pankaj supporter, alleged that Shammi’s followers initiated the violence by hurling bottles upon their arrival, resulting in the brutal beating of 15 individuals, including Siraj.

Syed Manjur Morshed, general secretary of Hijla Upazila Krishak League, and a Shammi loyalist, pointed fingers at Pankaj’s supporters for instigating the brawl and insisted that Siraj was aligned with Shammi.

Pankaj, running under the Eagle symbol, decried the attack, alleging it was a premeditated assault orchestrated by Shammi’s followers.

“Where did they get sticks and rods? This is a planned attack”, said Pankaj.

Shammi said that Siraj was the president of a Krishak League ward unit. “No one of the Awami League and its affiliate organisations are with Pankaj”, she said.

Kabir Uddin, a doctor at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, said Siraj already died when people brought him.

“We initially suspect that he died of heart disease, but we’ve sent the body for autopsy. The actual cause of his death will be known when the report is submitted”, he said.

Kotwali Model Police Station chief Arisul Haque disclosed that, according to the people who brought Siraj to the hospital, he suddenly fell ill during the rally.