Upazila Polls: Campaign begins amid clash

At least 80 people were injured in clashes between men of Awami League (AL) backed candidate and the party's ' rebel' candidate at Taltola Bazar in Kathalia upazila on the first day of campaign for the upcoming upazila parishad election on Friday.

Of them, seven people of both the groups were rushed to Barishal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

AL nominated Enamul Haque Monir said supporters of the incumbent upazila Chairman Golam Kibria Shikder, led by Jamai Rasel, launched a series of attacks on his men that left many injured.

They also vandalized an AL election campaign office at Taltola Bazar, he said, adding that 10 of the injured were admitted to different private hospitals.

“At least 70 of my supporters were injured by Monir's men while around 100 motorcycles and several houses were vandalised,” Kibria said.

“Kibria is one of the yaba peddlers in the area,” Monir said, adding that failing to get the party nomination his men launched attacks on his supporters.

Both the groups filed cases with Kathalia Police Station naming a total of 50 people and 300 unnamed, OC of the police station MA Salam said.