23 injured in AL infighting

At least 23 people were injured in a clash between two factions of Awami League (AL) in Purbo Hashamdia area under Bhanga upazila yesterday.

Five houses and a shop were also damaged during the incident.

Of the injured, nine were taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital and Bhanga Upazila Health Complex while the rest given first aid.

Locals said there was a longstanding conflict between Jahangir Matabbar, vice president of the upazila unit AL, and councillor of Bhanga municipality Bazlu Matabbar, also an activist of local AL, over establishing supremacy in the locality.

The two groups locked in an altercation when the supporters of Jahangir Matabbar went to build a shop at a fish market in Purbo Hashamdia area.

At one stage, the rival groups attacked each other with lethal weapons, leaving 23 people from both sides injured.

Kazi Saidur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Bhanga Police Station, said additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to avert any further trouble.