AL, Swechchhasebok Dal clash in Bhola: 50 hurt

More than 50 people including four policemen were injured as local activists of the ruling Awami League (AL) and Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebok Dal of opposition BNP clashed in Daulatkhan upazila yesterday morning.
Witnesses said, local Swechchhasebok Dal leaders and activists were holding a discussion meeting at the BNP office at Daulatkhan Bazar in the morning, making the front organisaton's founding anniversary.
All of a sudden a group of AL men equipped with sticks and brick chips swooped on the office at about 10.30am.
They vandalised the office and beat up a photojournalist of Dainik Dinkal as he tried to take snaps of the incident.
At one stage, Swechchhasebok Dal activists chased the attackers, triggering a clash that lasted for about two hours.
During the chase and counter-chase, more than 50 people were injured from both groups.
Seriously injured 15 include upazila BNP president Abdul Mannan Mia, secretary Nazim Uddin Hawladar and municipal BNP chief Harunur Rashid Khan. They were admitted to Sadar Hospital and upazila health complex.
Around 40 others took first aid at local clenics.
Officer in-charge of Daulatkhan police station Mojibul Haque said, on information, they rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
He identified the injured policemen as SI Abdus Sobhan, ASI Reaz and two constables.