Supporters of 2 AL factions clash during Quader's speech

Followers of two Awami League factions clashed when Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader delivering his speech at the triennial conference of the party's Cumilla city unit.

Crude bombs were also exploded during the incident.

The clash took place on Nazrul Avenue Road in Cumilla city from 11:45pm to 12:30 pm today (November 5, 2022).

According to witnesses, the followers of City Awami League President and lawmaker AKM Bahauddin Bahar, and Anjum Sultana Seema, an MP of the reserved women's seat, locked into a clash near the venue.

Anjum Sultana Seema told The Daily Star, "Yesterday, I was assured from the centre that I would be able to go to the conference with my workers and supporters. Accordingly, at 11:30 am, when I brought the workers and supporters to the venue, I saw the townhall gate closed. At that point, I called the party's joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and informed him that I had come to the conference under your direction."

"After the conversation, I was told from the gate that only I can go to the conference, the workers and supporters will not be able to go. When I decided to return and was coming back from the venue, Bahauddin Bahar's supporters attacked us from behind. Later, my supporters also got involved in the clash," she added.

Abdullah Al Mahmud Shahid, convener of the Bahar-backed Metropolitan Jubo League, told The Daily Star, "The incident happened outside the conference venue when we were inside. Seema's people detonated crude bombs. Police later came and brought the situation under control. I don't know if anyone went out of the conference and clashed."

Cumilla Superintendent of Police Abdul Mannan said, "There was a clash between the two factions. Now the situation is under control."