Ruling Awami League general secretary on Sunday blamed the radical forces for the killing of Gaibandha lawmaker Manjurul Islam Liton.

“The Gaibandha-Sundarganj lawmaker was killed in a planned manner. It seemed that the fundamentalists were behind the murder,” Quader told reporters at a briefing after the meeting.

“Fundamentalist groups will have to pay the price heavily,” he said.

The AL spokesperson came up with the observation after a meeting of party secretaries at party president Sheikh Hasina’s political office at Dhanmondi in the capital.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said when the people were in a mood to celebrate the New Year, the barbarous attack was made on the lawmaker of Gaibandha-1 constituency.

Liton was shot thrice by the assailants at his home in Bamondanga of Sundarganj upazila around 6:00pm on Saturday.

Three unknown youths riding a motorcycle stormed the MP’s house and shot him when he was in his guest room.

He was rushed to the Rangpur Medical College and Hospital in a critical condition but the doctors failed to resuscitate him.

The AL general secretary also condemned another attack on AL Khulna city unit publicity and publication secretary ZA Mahmud.

AL central leaders, including Ahmed Hossain, Enamul Haque Shamim, Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury, Abdus Sobhan Golap, Sujit Roy Nandi and Delwar Hossain were present at the briefing.

Meanwhile, a party delegation led by its joint general secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak visited the constituency of the late lawmaker.

Nanak termed the attack a bid to hinder Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s move to combat militancy.

“The murder of Liton is unfortunate. When Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was trying to free the nation from militancy at that moment the attack was made,” he said.  

“The attackers will be brought to book soon,” he added.

A parliament secretariat press release said the namaj-e-janaza of the Gaibandha MP will be held at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad at 10:00am.

After the janaza, the body will be taken to Gaibandha where he will be buried at his family graveyard.