At least 10 injured as two BNP factions clash in Araihazar, two sent to Dhaka Medical

At least 10 people were injured in a clash between two factions of the BNP during a programme marking National Revolution and Solidarity Day in Araihazar, Narayanganj. Two of the injured were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The clash took place on Sunday afternoon in the Puratan Steelbridge area of the upazila, as the groups were returning with a procession.

Witnesses and police said a BNP programme was under way at around 4:30 pm at the Shaheed Manjur Stadium in Araihazar municipality to mark National Revolution and Solidarity Day. At that time, supporters of Mobarak Hossain, former member secretary of the upazila Chhatra Dal, took position in front of the stage with a procession led by him.

Later, at around 4:45 pm, another procession led by Salahuddin Ahmed (Salamat), president of Kalapaharia union BNP, arrived in front of the stage, and an argument broke out between the workers of the two sides. The situation calmed down after the two leaders intervened.

At around 5:15 pm, when the National Revolution and Solidarity Day procession reached the Puratan Steelbridge area, the argument between the two sides flared up again. At one stage, the two sides clashed with locally made weapons.

On Salahuddin Ahmed's side, Ershadullah (45), Rifatullah (35), Ansar Ali (44), Bahar Ali (48) and Faruk (45) were injured. On Mobarak's side, Siddiq (65) and Shahjahan (40) were injured. Three more people from the two sides were also injured, but their names could not be known.

The injured were taken to Araihazar Upazila Health Complex. As the condition of Rifatullah and Shahjahan was critical, they were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Police visited the spot after receiving the news.

Salahuddin Ahmed, president of Kalapaharia union BNP, alleged that they took part in the procession at the upazila level on the instructions of MP Nazrul Islam Azad. He claimed that former Chhatra Dal leader Mobarak Hossain later led a planned attack on their workers with sharp weapons. Seven of their workers were seriously injured in the attack, and Rifatullah was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

Asked about the allegation, Mobarak Hossain, former member secretary of Araihazar upazila Chhatra Dal, said, 'I was at the front of the procession. I heard that Salamat's (Salahuddin Ahmed's) people attacked my people. Two of my men, Bajlu and Sharif, were hacked with sharp weapons and injured.'

Sabzel Hossain, officer-in-charge of Araihazar police station, said a fight broke out between the two BNP groups - the Salamat group and the Mobarak group - over holding processions. No one has filed any complaint in this incident so far, he said, adding that legal action will be taken if a complaint is filed.