2 killed as AL men clash over tender

At least two people were killed and 30 others injured as two factions of the ruling Awami League clashed on Sunday night at Dharmaghar in Habiganj's Madhabpur upazila over tender submission.
The deceased were identified as Sohel Mia, 18, son of Ruku Mia of Nijongor village, and Kala Mia, 45, of Kalikapur village of the same upazila.
According to police, the factions led by Farid Mia, general secretary of Dharmaghar union AL, and local AL activist Mezbah Uddin engaged in an altercation at the office of Madhabpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer on Sunday afternoon over submitting tenders for the lease of a pond in Dharmaghar Bazar.
At one stage, the groups engaged in an altercation and Mezbah and his men were assaulted by their rivals, said Abdul Bashed, officer-in-charge of Madhabpur Police Station.
Later in the evening, both the groups equipped with sharp weapons locked in a fierce clash at Dharmaghar Bazar, leaving 32 people injured.
According to police, five to six gunshots were fired and nearly 10 crude bombs were exploded during the hour-long clash.
Sohel sustained bullet wounds and was whisked to Madhabpur Health Complex where he was declared dead. Kala was rushed to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds around 3:30pm on Monday, the OC said.
The other injured were admitted to Madhabpur Health Complex and Habiganj Sadar Hospital.
Police said there had been a longstanding feud between Farid and Mezbah over establishing supremacy in the area.