25 injured as Olama League factions clash

At least 25 people were hurt in a clash between two factions of Awami Olama League, an affiliated body of the ruling Awami League, in front of Jatiya Press Club yesterday.

Witnesses said a group led by Aktar Hossain and Mawlana Mohammad Abul Hasan Sheikh Shariatpuri, who claimed to be the president and general secretary of Olama League respectively, formed a human chain in front of the press club around 10:00am.

They were celebrating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's receiving the Champions of the Earth award.

Around 11:00am, another group led by Ilias Hossain Helali and Delwar Hossain, who also claimed to be the president and general secretary of the same political wing, reached there and started announcing their programme.

At one stage, Helali-Delwar group attacked the other group and beat them up with bamboo sticks, alleged Hasan Sheikh Shariatpuri.

He later filed a case with Shahbagh police in the evening, accusing nine people including Helali.

Shiblee Noman, assistant commissioner (Ramna Zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, confirmed the incident and said no one was arrested as of 9:30 last night.