BCL, supporters of ward councillor clash

A group of Bangladesh Chhatra League and supporters of a pro-Awami League ward councillor clashed over “collecting extortion money” from traders on a Savar footpath on Sunday night.

At least 20 people from both groups were injured.

A motorcycle was burnt during the incident which occurred in Katlapur area. The injured were admitted to Savar Upazila Health Complex and local hospitals, said police.

According to locals, there has been a longstanding dispute between Atikur Rahman Atik, president of Savar Upazila BCL, and Abdus Sattar Miah, councillor of ward no-6 in Savar municipality, to establish dominance over the footpath hawkers.

Usually, the followers of the ward councillor regularly extort money from the traders and thus patronise them to run their businesses illegally. The clash ensued as the other group hungered for the money, said locals.

Seeking anonymity, several hawkers said Sattar's supporters beat one of the followers of Atik when he demanded money from the traders in Ulail area.

Later, Atik's supporters attacked their rivals when they went to Katlapur area, triggering the clash, they said.

The groups were equipped with sticks and firearms, said locals.

Sattar told The Daily Star that BCL activists attacked his supporters without any reason.

The ward councillor, however, denied his involvement in such extortion.

But, Savar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohshinul Kadir confirmed that the groups clashed over collecting extortion money.

Atik did not respond to repeated phone calls made by this correspondent.