AL feud behind Barishal violence
A political rivalry between two Awami League stalwarts in Barishal city triggered the violence on the premises of sadar UNO's office on Wednesday night, leaving at least 50 people injured.
The incident led to a conflict between the authorities of the city corporation and the local administration, according to several politicians in the district.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Munibur Rahman and police filed two cases over the incident, naming Barishal City Corporation (BCC) Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah as the prime accused for instigating the violence. Local AL men were also accused in the cases.
The mayor, however, alleged that Ansar members opened fire on him upon the UNO's directive after he went to the spot to calm the situation. He was unharmed.
Several local politicians told this newspaper that there has been a longstanding rivalry between Serniabat and Zaheed Farooque, state minister for water resources, over establishing supremacy in AL politics in Barishal city.
Serniabat is the general secretary of Barishal city AL while Farooque, lawmaker from Barishal-5, is vice-president of Barishal AL.
Witnesses said the violence ensued as some BCC staffers -- believed to be followers of the mayor and members of the local AL units -- appeared on the premises of the UNO's office in the city's C&B area around 9:30pm and tried to take down banners put up by Farooque's followers marking the National Mourning Day.
As on-duty Ansar members barred the BCC staffers from removing the banners, the mayor's followers started scolding them. On information, the UNO rushed to the spot from his government residence on the same compound. Mayor's followers misbehaved with him, according to the witnesses.
At one stage, Serniabat's followers left the spot only to return with another 60-70 people. They then attacked the UNO's residence, breaking open its gate.
At this, the UNO ordered the on-duty Ansar members to open fire.
Additional policemen, who had already arrived there, also swung into action, charging batons on the crowd to disperse it, said witnesses.
At least 50 people were hurt -- some of them bullet-hit, according to AL sources and witnesses.
Mayor Serniabat and Barishal city AL President AKM Jahangir went to the spot while the chaos went on. The situation was brought under control after around one and a half hours, added witnesses.
The UNO later told journalists that some local AL and BCL activists broke the gate of his residence. "Ansar members had to fire shots to ensure our safety."
Talking to the media, Serniabat said he went to the spot to calm the situation and alleged that Ansar members fired shots targeting him.
As the incident heated up Barishal's political landscape, the authorities suspended road and river connection between the district and other parts of the country till yesterday noon.
Additional members of police and Rab were deployed at different parts of Barishal city to avoid any further untoward situation.
The C&B Road was blocked by garbage trucks of the city corporation.
Ten platoons of BGB members were also deployed across the city yesterday evening to maintain law and order.
Talking to journalists, Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP) Additional Commissioner Md Enamul Haque said, "We did whatever was necessary to drive the mob away."
Barishal Divisional Commissioner Md Saiful Hassan Badal and Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP) Commissioner Md Shahabuddin Khan visited the spot. Both of them said legal action would be taken against those responsible for the violence.
Two separate cases were filed with BMP's Kotwali Police Station in connection with the incident.
The UNO yesterday sued the mayor, 28 other named and 80 unnamed people over the violence.
A police sub-inspector filed the other case accusing the mayor, 94 other named and 400 unnamed people.
Police arrested 12 people, including Barishal city unit AL Joint Secretary Hasan Mahmud in connection with the incident, said Nurul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station.
Barishal district AL, city unit AL and BCL jointly organised a press conference yesterday and alleged that the UNO unleashed the violence as he was involved in a conspiracy to tarnish the government's image.
In a statement yesterday, Bangladesh Administrative Services Association said it held an emergency meeting of its executive committee. The Association thinks the incident took place at the instruction of the BCC mayor, the statement said.
The association demanded the mayor's immediate arrest and other legal action against him, added the statement.
Talking to The Daily Star, several local politicians said the violence on Wednesday night was the result of a longstanding feud between the mayor and the state minister.
Almost all 30 ward councillors in Barishal City Corporation were loyal to the mayor. But recently, six to seven of them joined hands with the state minister. These councillors in collaboration with the state minister organised different programmes and put up banners on the occasion of the National Mourning Day.
This irked the mayor and that is why his men went to take down banners from the premises of the UNO's office, they said.
The politicians also said Serniabat wants to take absolute control of Barishal city politics while Farooque is trying to increase his political strength in the city.
The two AL leaders did not make any comments regarding their rivalry or their involvement in the incident.
No official comment on the alleged conflict between the BCC and the local administration was also available.
Talking to journalists yesterday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said action would be taken against those responsible after investigation.
"The probe will reveal the real issue," he said.
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