Faridpur: An Awami League activist was hacked to death in a clash between supporters of the AL and BNP-backed chairman candidates in Bagat union of Madhukhali upazila, Faridpur, on Saturday night over the union council election, billed for 7 May.

The deceased is Atiar Rahman, an AL activist and brother of AL candidate Matiar Rahman.

Madhukhali police officer-in-charge Ruhul Amin said supporters of the AL candidate locked into an altercation with the supporters of the BNP candidate while they were returning from an election campaign in front of the AL aspirant’s election camp in Roy Jadapur area of the union at about 9:30pm.

Over the issue, the BNP men attacked an AL office in Bagat union at about 10:30pm, triggering a fierce clash which left seven people, including Atiar, injured.

The injured were taken to the upazila health complex where doctors declared Atiar dead.

Outraged by the incident, the AL candidate’s supporters blocked the Dhaka-Khulna Highway from about 11:00pm to 12:30am and staged a demonstration.

Later police removed them from the highway and brought the situation under control.