AL infighting: Police sue 300 people in Patuakhali

At least 300 people were sued over yesterday's clash between two factions of Awami League in Baufal upazila town of Patuakhali.

Police filed the case against around 300 unidentified people with Baufal Police Station last night on charge of attacking them, said Al Mamun, officer-in-charge of Baufal Police Station.

Nine policemen, including the officer-in-charge, were injured while bringing the situation under control, the police officer claimed.

The case will be properly investigated and legal action will be taken accordingly, our Patuakhali correspondent reports quoting OC Mamun.

Among the injured, Baufal Upazila Chairman and Upazila AL General Secretary Motaleb Howladar, who was injured in the clash, is still undergoing treatment at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

At least 50 people were injured in the clash between two AL factions during the celebration of the 103rd birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children's Day in Patuakhali's Bauphal upazila yesterday.

On the occasion, local AL lawmaker ASM Feroz and Abdul Motaleb Hawlader, also the upazila chairman, announced separate programmes at the same place and time.

When Motaleb and his followers brought out a celebratory procession, police obstructed the procession in front of the upazila parishad gate.

Suddenly, several hundred supporters of Faisal Ahmed Monir, nephew of the lawmaker and upazila unit AL President Feroz, attacked Motaleb and his men with sharp weapons when an altercation broke out between police and him.

Law enforcers fired at least 20 rounds of rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, causing panic among locals.