AL-BNP fierce clash in Bagerhat: 20 injured

The local office of ruling Awami League at Mukkhait Bazar in Gotapara union under Bagerhat Sadar upazila lies vandalised allegedly by BNP men on Saturday. PHOTO: STAR

At least 20 people, including a police sub-inspector, were injured during a fierce clash between the activists of AL and BNP at Mukkhait Bazar under Sadar upazila on Saturday.
Both sides used sharp weapons, traded gunshots, vandalised each other's office and set at least seven motorbikes on fire during the clash that continued for two and a half hours from 4:30pm. The AL men also set fire to local BNP office.
Traffic on Bagerhat-Chitalmari Road also remained halted for three hours. Police dispersed the clashing groups by firing blank shots and brought the situation under control at around 7:00pm.
Police have been deployed in the bazaar area to avert any further incident. During a drive at night, police picked up three BNP men from the area.
The trouble began following an altercation between some activists of the two rival parties at the bazaar around 4:00 in the afternoon. At one stage, AL men vandalised local BNP office and set it afire. They also set fire to four motorbikes in front of the office.
After a few minutes, BNP activists made a counter attack, vandalised the local AL office and set fire to three motorbikes on the office premises.
Of the injured, Sub-inspector Quamrul Islam, AL workers Md Siddiqur Rahman and Meer Muhammed Saddam were admitted to Bagerhat Sadar Hospital while three other AL men–Abdur Razzak, Anwarul Haque and Sohel Haider--were sent to Khulna Medical College Hospital.
District BNP General Secretary Ali Reza said 10 of their injured workers took treatment secretly to avoid arrest by the police and attack by the ruling party men.
AL filed a case with Bagerhat Model Police Station on Saturday night, accusing at least 300 BNP leaders and activists. Of the accused 118, including the district unit President MA Salam, were identified while the rest were unnamed.
Injured police Sub-Inspector Quamrul Islam filed another case against 20 identified and over 300 unidentified men for obstructing law enforcers from performing their duties.