Ruling party men clash in Bogura town

At least 10 people, including a plainclothes policeman and a TV cameraperson, were injured in a clash between two rival groups of Bogura Awami League and Jubo League in the town's Charmatha bus terminal area yesterday.

Police said leaders of the rival groups -- Monjurul Alam Mohon, joint secretary of Bogura district AL, and Aminul Islam, acting president of Bogura Sadar upazila Jubo League -- were present during the clash over establishing supremacy in the Bogura District Motor Malik Group, a transport owners' body.

Witnesses said Monjurul, along with about 600 people, attacked the office of Bogura District Motor Malik Group in the bus terminal area around 11:30am.

Ramjan Ali, 55, constable at the Special Branch of Bogura police, sustained stab injuries during the clash while discharging duties in plainclothes. Besides, GTV cameraperson Raju Ahmed was also wounded.

Seven of the injured, including the constable and the cameraperson, were admitted to Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. Two of the wounded had bullet injuries, said Abdul Wadud, deputy director at the hospital.

According to witnesses and police, 10 motorcycles, three buses and a filling station were vandalised during the clash. Three of the motorbikes were torched.

Movement of traffic on Dhaka-Rangpur highway remained halted for about two hours from 11:30am.

Ali Ashraf Bhuiyan, superintendent of Bogura police, said there was a long-standing rivalry between the two groups over establishing supremacy the transport owners' group.

"About 500-600 people from one of the groups went to Charmatha area today [yesterday] to capture the office of Motor Malik Group. At one stage, the clash broke out," he added.

The SP said police fired at least 20 rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.

"We have detained 12 people from the spot. A case will be filed over the attack on the constable," said Ali Ashraf.

An election to the Motor Malik Group was held three years ago in which Akhtaruzaman Duke and Aminul Islam were elected president and secretary of the organisation.

However, Monjurul had raised an allegation that the election was not held in a free and fair manner.

Contacted, Monjurul, also a former convener of Motor Malik Group, said he went near the bus terminal, but Aminul and his supporters announced via loudspeakers that they would not allow him in.

"After sometime, I along with my people started returning from Charmatha area. But police suddenly opened fired on my people, leaving at least 20 of them hit with bullets. They are now receiving treatment at different local hospitals," he told The Daily Star.

He alleged that Aminul's men vandalised three of his buses in the terminal area.

Despite repeated attempts, this newspaper could not reach Aminul over the phone for comments.