Programme marred by Jaldhaka AL factional clash
A clash between two factions of Awami League (AL) in Jaldhaka upazila during yesterday’s National Mourning Day programme left at least twenty people including three policemen injured.
Former Nilphamari-3 lawmaker Golam Mostofa was chief guest at the programme organised by Jaldhaka upazila unit of Bangladesh Chhatra league (BCL) in association with AL’s Jaldhaka municipality unit, said Nolini Bikash Roy Joy, president of the BCL unit.
The clash erupted after a rowdy procession led by Ansar Ali Mintu, president of AL’s upazila unit, entered the venue at Bangabandhu Chattar in Jaldhaka Bazar, alleged Nolini Bikash.
The rivals attacked each other with bamboo sticks, iron rods and stones during the clash that continued for around two hours, said police and locals.
Sub-Inspector (SI) Mamunur Rashid of Jaldhaka Police Station and two other members of police were injured when police arrived at the scene and attempted to bring order, said Mostifizur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station.
Police fired eleven tear gas shells and same number of rubber bullets to disperse the clashing activists of the two factions.
All the injured including the police personnel were undergoing treatment at Jaldhaka Upazila Health Complex. SI Mamunur Rashid was later transferred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated, the OC said.
Although the OC said a large number of police personnel were deployed in the area to restore calm, sporadic clashes between the two groups, wielding sticks, continued at various locations of the town till filing of this report around 5:00pm.
Ansar Ali Mintu, the president of AL’s upazila unit, claimed that it was a premeditated attack by Jamaat-Shibir men, who joined different units of AL and its front organisations with the blessing of former lawmaker Golam Mostofa.
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