Noakhali: A local Awami League leader, who had been missing since April 13, was found with his throat cut in the Meghna river in Hatia upazila of Noakhali early on Sunday.

The deceased is Baharuddin Sardar, in his twenties, secretary of ward no. 6 of Charking union council Awami League.

Quoting party members, Hatia police station Officer in Charge M Abdul Majid said, ‘Baharuddin went missing following a factional clash between two groups of the local Awami League at Bhairab Bazar in Charking area on Thursday.’

‘Later, his body was spotted floating on the Meghna river early Sunday. Upon information, police recovered it and sent to the morgue for autopsy.’

According to locals, there has been a long‐standing dispute between the supporters of Hatia police station AL General Secretary and also the UP Chairman Mohiuddin Ahmed and AL district committee Senior Vice‐President Mohammad Ali over establishing supremacy and tensions have been high in the area since the last UP elections took place on 22 March, 2016.

Local people claimed that Baharuddin used to be the right‐hand man of Mohammad Ali and Thursday’s clash was led by him.

When contacted, Mohammad Ali said ‘The supporters of Mohiuddin killed Baharuddin and threw away his body into the river. We want exemplary punishment for the killers.’

Denying the allegation, Mohiuddin said, ‘We have no idea what happened to Baharuddin or who killed him. The allegation is baseless.’