Arson, clashes after polls in Bagerhat

Family members stand helpless yesterday amid the charred remains of the house of a local BNP leader at Molliker Ber union in Rampal upazila, Bagerhat. Photo: Star

A group of ruling Awami League men set fire to 10 houses and around 20 shops of BNP supporters in Rampal of Bagerhat in post-upazila polls violence on Sunday night.
It all began in the afternoon when the houses of Rampal upazila BNP Joint Secretary Obaidul Islam and his brother Zahidul Islam were vandalised by supporters of Malliker Ber Union Parishad Chairman and AL leader Talukder Nazmul Kabir.
The attackers also beat BNP supporters Shahidul, Nazmul, Halim and some others.
In retaliation, BNP supporters beat the union parishad Chairman in a local market in the evening and took away a legal firearm from his possession.

Burned house of a local Awami League supporter. The arson attacks took place during the violence that flared up on Sunday centring on the upazila polls held the day before. Photo: Star

The AL supporters again chased the BNP men and set fire to the houses and shops.
At least 15 people of both BNP and AL were injured in a three-hour long clash that continued till around 8:00pm.
After the incident, the male BNP supporters fled away. The administration deployed additional forces to maintain law and order.
Local lawmaker Talukder Abdul Khaleq visited the area.