6 AL activists shot during infighting

At least six Awami League activists got shot yesterday evening in a reported clash between factions of the party in Companyganj, Noakhali.

Police said Sabuj, 40, Jisan, 23, Sani, 27, Delwar Hossain Suman, 27, Didar, 35, and Kanchan, 50, who are Quader Mirza's men, sustained bullet injuries and were taken to different hospitals.

According to police, Bashurhat Municipality Mayor Abdul Quader Mirza's men were marching in processions at different unions in Companyganj and Bashurhat municipalities around 7:00pm.

"When Quader Mirza's followers brought out a procession at Ward 9 under Bashurhat municipality, a chase and counter-chase ensued between them and the followers of AL's Bashurhat upazila unit Organising Secretary Mizanur Rahman Badal," police said, quoting locals as saying.

At one stage, both groups clashed and shots were reportedly fired, police said. No one from Badal's group was injured, added police.

Mir Jahedul Haque, officer-in-charge of Companyganj Police Station, said one of the six activists was sent to Dhaka as his condition was critical while the rest were undergoing treatment at Companyganj Upazila Health Complex.

Both groups blamed each other for the violence.