BNP factions scuffle at party office in Ctg

Two rival factions of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were locked into a scuffle at the party's office in Chittagong yesterday over supremacy in the party.
Sources said clash broke out when leaders and activists of the factions, one group loyal to former livestock minister Abdullah Al Noman and the other its anti-group, started mudslinging to each other terming so-called reformists.
Party followers and adherents of both the factions took part in a milad mahfil organised by BNP city unit and its front organisations at its office at Nasiman Bhaban.
Activists of a faction led by former president of JCD city unit Nazimur Rahman locked into an altercation with some pro-Noman leaders, including former general secretary Mohammad Ali, Jubo Dal city unit leaders Abul Hashem Bakkar and Yasin Chowdhury Liton and former JCD city general secretary Ahmedul Alam Rasel, blaming their anti-Khaleda activities in the name of reform.
At one stage, both the groups involved in the clash where some of the leaders were assaulted, witnesses said.
Later, Nazimur along with some activists loyal to anti-Noman group took out a procession at around 3:00pm hailing the release of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
But when they reached Kazir Dewry intersection, police intercepted the procession and charged batons to disperse the activists.
Nazimur claimed that at lease 10 activists were injured when the policemen attacked them and also blamed the leaders loyal to Noman for the clash in its office.
He alleged that they were trying to take hold of the office even though their activities were called in questions for their so-called party reforms.