A senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader was killed as violent clashes broke out between activists of Jamaat and BNP during a joint election manifesto announcement programme in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Rezaul Karim, general secretary of Jamaat’s Sreebardi upazila unit. He died around 9:45pm while being taken to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment, said Nuruzzaman Badal, a parliamentary candidate from Sherpur-3 constituency.

The clashes erupted in the afternoon during a programme organised by the Jhenaigati upazila administration, where all candidates were scheduled to announce their election manifestos from a single stage.

According to witnesses, Jamaat supporters occupied most of the chairs at the venue around 3pm, triggering an altercation with BNP activists who failed to find seating. The verbal dispute soon escalated into a violent clash.

At least 50 people from both sides were injured in the incident, sources said.

Tensions flared again in the evening, leading to another round of clashes. Jamaat leaders claimed that Rezaul Karim and around 50 of their activists were injured in the renewed violence.

Sherpur Superintendent of Police Kamrul Islam said Rezaul Karim sustained serious head injuries during the clash and died on the way to hospital.

“Legal action will be taken after identifying those involved through investigation,” he said.