BNP-Jamaat Scuffle Over Mosque Discussion in Kushtia Leaves Four Injured from Both Sides
In a mosque in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia, an argument and scuffle broke out between leaders and activists of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami over a discussion held after prayers. At least four people from both sides were injured.
The incident took place on Thursday, October 22, after Asr prayers at the mosque adjacent to Tarachand Mondal Government Primary School in Kursha.
Among the injured are Joynal Abedin, ameer of Kursha union Jamaat, and Swapan Sheikh, joint convener of the union Jubo Dal. The injured were treated at Mirpur Upazila Health Complex.
Police and local people said a discussion began in the mosque after Asr prayers ended. At one stage an argument started between the two sides over the discussion. Within moments it turned tense and leaders and activists of both sides became involved in a scuffle and fighting.
Mirpur Upazila BNP general secretary Tipu Sultan said Jamaat men were administering oaths to ordinary people inside the mosque. BNP leaders and activists then asked them not to hold political discussion in the mosque. He claimed Jamaat activists beat BNP activists, and a scuffle followed between the two sides.
On the other hand, Mirpur Upazila Jamaat ameer Rezaul Haque said a regular religious discussion based on the Quran and Hadith was under way in the mosque after prayers. There was no political purpose or meeting there, he claimed.
Rezaul Haque said the religious discussion was obstructed completely unjustly and their leaders and activists were later attacked and beaten. Union Jamaat ameer Joynal Abedin, Jamaat activist Ibrahim and another activist were injured, he said.
From the statements of both sides it is clear that the dispute began mainly over whether the discussion in the mosque was political. One side calls it political activity; the other says it was a regular religious discussion.
Mirpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Shahidul Islam confirmed the incident and said several people from both sides were injured in the argument and scuffle between BNP and Jamaat supporters over the mosque discussion.
The OC said he himself visited the scene. The situation in the area is completely normal. Surveillance has been increased to avoid any untoward incident, he said.
The process of taking legal action is under way, the OC also said. The next legal steps over this scuffle are therefore now in process.
The scuffle between supporters of two political parties over a post-prayer discussion inside a mosque has sparked local discussion. Although the situation is normal, police say increased surveillance will continue.
