BNP faction attacks rivals in party meet

At least 15 BNP leaders were injured in an attack by a faction at a meeting of Raozan upazila unit at Chittagong city's Nasiman Bhaban party office yesterday afternoon.

The injured, including Mohammad Shafi, convener of Chittagong north district unit; MA Halim, organising secretary of pro-BNP Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal; and Sekandar Chowdhury, convener of Raozan municipality unit, were admitted to a city private hospital.

Nurul Amin, member of Chittagong north district unit BNP, said, at the end of the meeting at 5:00pm, around 50-60 people loyal to Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury attacked them with hockey sticks and sticks.

The attackers had left within 20 minutes before the police rushed to the spot, he said.

Nezam Uddin, inspector (investigation) of Kotwali Police Station, said they heard about the incident.

No one was yet to come to the station to file a complaint till 7:20pm, he added.

Shafi, who was admitted to the hospital with leg injuries, said Hasan Chowdhury, convener of a committee of the upazila; and Anwar Hossain, joint convener, led the attack.

He said they were loyal to Aslam Chowdhury, convener of Chittagong north district unit, and the attackers supported Gias, a central committee leader former president of the unit and now a central committee leader. “Hasan and Anwar threatened us not to hold the meeting a few days ago.”

As the meeting was being held, they launched the attack with some goons, he added.

Denying the allegations, Hasan said he heard about the incident but he was not involved in it as he was at his Raozan residence at that time.

Anwar could not be contacted over the phone for his comments while Gias did not receive mobile despite repeated attempts.