15 injured as AL, JP clash in Rangpur

At least 15 people were injured yesterday in a clash between Awami League and Jatiya Party activists at Badarganj upazila complex in the district over distribution of relief rice.
Critically injured Shawkat Hossain, Shafiqul Islam, Shahidur Rahman and Bhutto Lohani were admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
The clash erupted over distribution of 315 metric tons of rice for Badarganj upazila under Test Relief (TR) Programme.
Badarganj Upazila Chairman and local Awami League leader Bishwanath Sarkar Bitu and Jatiya Party MP of Rangpur constituency-2 Anisul Islam Mandal blamed each other for the clash.
Bitu said Anisul Islam demanded 50 metric tons of rice for his constituency at the meeting in the upazila complex conference room. As there was no such provision, Kutubpur Union Council Chairman Ishtiaque Ahmed protested allotting rice to Anisul and thus both started an altercation.
A rumour spread that Bitu and his cohorts beat up Anisul Islam and his men at the meeting. Jatiya Party leaders and activists then blockaded the upazila complex and confined Bitu to his office, he added.
Eyewitnesses said Awami League leaders and activists rushed to the spot and attacked Jatiya Party activists as they heard about Bitu's confinement.
Attack and counter attack between the two groups continued till 4:30pm when police took over the upazila complex dispersing the activists.
Anisul Islam, however, denied the allegation of demanding relief rice. He said instigated by Bitu, Ishtiaque Ahmed rebuked him at the meeting without any reason.
Badarganj upazila council yesterday organised a meeting at the upazila complex to fix rice quota under the TR programme. Bishwanath Sarkar Bitu presided over the meeting while Anisul Islam was present there as an adviser to the TR committee.
The upazila council chairman, its vice chairman, upazila nirbahi officer and all upazila chairmen of Badarganj were also present at the meeting.