33 hurt in clash in Bagerhat village

At least 33 people were injured, including eight by bullets, in a clash between the supporters of two UP members in Mollahat upazila yesterday.

ANM Khairul Anam, officer-in-charge of Mollahat Police Station, said there had been a longstanding dispute between the two members of Udaypur Union -- Azizur Rahman Muku and Kamrul Mollah -- over establishing supremacy in the area.

Kamrul is the member of Udaypur Uttarkandi ward while Muku of Astail ward.

Locals said supporters of Muku beat up Kamrul's brother Roisul Mollah on Thursday night. Later on that night, Kamrul's men beat up Muku and some of his followers.

Around 8:00am yesterday, over 200 people of the two sides attacked each other with sticks and sharp weapons near Udaypur Uttarkandi Govt Primary School. Both the groups also exchanged fire. The battle continued for an hour.

On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control after firing some blank shots.

Sayed Jahangir Hossain, family planning officer of Mollahat Upazila Health Complex, said of the 33 injured, 13, including those shot, were referred to Khulna Medical College Hospital.

Additional police have been deployed in the area to avoid further trouble.

Contacted, the UP members blamed each other for the clash. 

No one was arrested in this connection.