AL Infighting: Opening of police station sees violence

A violent scuffle broke out between two rival groups of Awami League during the inauguration of Bauphal Police Station building yesterday, leaving at least 10 party men injured.

They received treatment at Bauphal Upazila Health Complex and different clinics in the district.

The incident happened around 11:00am minutes after Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Chief Whip ASM Feroz jointly cut a ribbon to formally open the newly-constructed building in Bauphal, said police.

A munajat was being offered. All of a sudden, some men started chanting slogans in favour of Ziaul Haque Juwel, Bauphal municipality mayor and also organising secretary of Patuakhali AL, said witnesses.

Visibly angry, supporters of Feroz tried to stop them, leading to a violent scuffle between the two groups. The AL men also vandalised some chairs and threw a few at each other.

At least 10 local AL men, including Reaz, Kabir, Nasir, Kamal, Rahat and Anisur, were injured in the incident. However, it could not be immediately confirmed which faction they belonged to.

On-duty policemen brought the situation under control after baton-charging the crowd, said witnesses.

Motaleb Hawlader, secretary of Bauphal AL and also a close aide to Feroz, said some people created an unpleasant situation over the peaceful programme. He termed those people “enemy of the party”.

Motaleb also alleged that Juwel's supporters attacked the programme.

Contacted, Juwel denied the allegation. “The attackers are not from our faction”.

Mahfuzur Rahman, additional superintendent of police in the district, said the incident happened over a “misunderstanding” between the supporters of Feroz and Juwel, who is seeking AL nomination to vie in the upcoming general elections.

“But we brought the situation under control immediately,” he said.

After the scuffle, the home minister joined a views exchange meeting as the chief guest with locals on the premises of the police station. Among others, Feroz, Border Guard Bangladesh Director General Abul Hossain and Deputy Director General of Police (Barisal range) Shafiqul Islam spoke at the meeting.

Earlier, the minister reached Bauphal upazila town from the capital city by a helicopter. 

The Public Works Department (PWD) constructed the 4-storey building at a cost of Tk 6.43 crore.