BNP leader Mohibuzzaman Kochi died near a Khulna polling centre during Bangladesh elections, triggering political blame, police response and conflicting claims.
Mohibuzzaman Kochi, 55, a former office secretary of the Khulna city BNP unit and a resident of Haji Mohsin Road, collapsed during a confrontation between rival political supporters around 8:00 am. (Photo: Social Media)
Voting day in Bangladesh witnessed tension after a senior local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) died near a polling station in Khulna early Thursday morning. The incident took place outside the academic building of Khulna Alia Madrasah, which authorities had designated as a voting centre.
Mohibuzzaman Kochi, 55, a former office secretary of the Khulna city BNP unit and a resident of Haji Mohsin Road, collapsed during a confrontation between rival political supporters around 8:00 am. Witnesses said heated exchanges broke out between BNP activists and supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami during polling activities. Police and election officials reached the spot shortly after tensions escalated and dispersed the groups.
Kochi was a long-time BNP organiser who remained active in local political activities in Khulna. Party leaders said he went to the polling centre to monitor voting and address complaints from supporters about alleged campaigning and irregularities.
Former organising secretary of Sadar Thana BNP, Yusuf Harun Majnu, said tensions had been building since morning. "There was tension at the Alia Madrasah polling station since the morning. The principal of Alia Madrasa was campaigning for Jamaat there," he said.
He added, "When he was obstructed, he pushed Mohibuzzaman Kochi. He struck a tree and hit his head. That is why he died."
The circumstances surrounding Kochi’s death remain disputed. BNP leaders alleged that a confrontation turned violent when the madrasah principal, whom they accused of campaigning for Jamaat, pushed Kochi during an argument.
Jamaat-e-Islami representatives rejected the accusations. Jamaat centre director Mahbubur Rahman said, "The BNP people were throwing out our female workers. I stopped them. Then one of them fell ill. I heard later on that he died."
Khulna Alia Madrasah principal Abdur Rahim Mia also denied any physical altercation. "The BNP people were throwing out our female workers. I stopped them. Then one of them fell ill. I heard later on that he died," he claimed.
Police officers who responded to the disturbance said they quickly intervened and removed supporters from the area to restore order. A sub-inspector on duty reported that he saw an individual being taken away in an auto-rickshaw, but did not witness any physical clash or scuffle.
Election officials clarified that the incident occurred outside the voting premises. Medical authorities later confirmed that Kochi was brought dead to Khulna City Medical College Hospital, and doctors found no visible injury marks on his body during the initial examination.
BNP leaders and candidates demanded an immediate investigation and called for the arrest of those they believed were responsible. Khulna-3 constituency BNP candidate Nazrul Islam Manju alleged that Kochi died after being hit by a Jamaat leader and urged authorities to take strict action.
Jamaat leaders maintained that no physical confrontation occurred and insisted that CCTV footage from the polling area would clarify the sequence of events.
The death triggered fresh concerns about election-day security as Bangladesh held a crucial national vote amid heightened political rivalry. Authorities deployed additional security forces across the country, and polling continued at the Khulna centre after police restored calm.
The incident also highlighted the intense competition between BNP and Jamaat supporters in several constituencies, where both parties sought to mobilise voters early in the day. As officials continue their inquiry, the cause of Kochi’s death remains disputed, with both sides standing firmly by their versions of events.
