An Awami League activist was hacked to death and another was injured over political rivalry at Aulaghata Ghonarchar in Santhia upazila of Pabna on Saturday night.

The deceased is Abdul Matin, 42, cousin of Nagdemra union Awami League general secretary and former union parishad chair Harunur Rashid, of Sonatala village under the union in Santhia, said Santhia police officer-in-charge Asif Mohammad Siddiqul Islam.

The injured, Jewel, is Matin’s cousin and Harunur’s younger brother.

The police officer said that while Matin and Jewel were returning home from Santhia Bazar at around 10.30pm on Saturday, they came under an attack carried out by political rivals on the banks of the River Ichhamati at Aulaghata Ghonarchar.

The injured, Jewel, is Matin’s cousin and Harunur’s younger brother.

The police officer said that while Matin and Jewel were returning home from Santhia Bazar at night, they came under an attack carried out by political rivals on the banks of the River Ichhamati at Aulaghata Ghonarchar.

Matin was hacked to death on the spot  while Jewel managed to jump into the river and escape, said the officer additing that Jewel was admitted to the upazila health complex.

Quoting relaives of the deceased,OC Asif said that Matin was killed allegedly by the followers of Nagdemra

union parishad’s current chaiman Hafizur Rahman who was expelled from the rulling party for going against the party decision and contesting in the past UP elections abd former UP chair Harun.

Hafizur said that the allegations against him were baseless. He also demanded a proper investigation into the murder.

The police, meanwhile, arrested a suspect named Sayeed in connection with the incident.