10 injured in AL factional clashes during Shariatpur municipality election campaign

At least ten people were injured as two factions of ruling Awami League clashed at the Swarnaghosh area of Shariatpur over a speech against drugs in an election campaign of Shariatpur municipality yesterday.

The injured were identified as Farid Sheikh, a councillor candidate of Ward-8 of Shariatpur municipality; Azahar Natti, Romij Uddin Sharif, Robin Sheikh, Manik Khan, Alamgir Mollah, Abdus Samad Talukdar, Dulal Sardar, Badal Howlader and Moti Kazi.

They were rushed to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital and nearby private clinics for treatment.

Witnesses said the clashes erupted when supporters of ward-8 councillor candidate Farid Sheikh clashed with Alo Sardar, elder brother of councillor candidate Abdur Rashid Sardar of the same ward, after he brought up the drug trade issue around 4:15pm.

Awami League mayor candidate Parvej Rahman, Chhatra League vice-president Fahad Hossain Topu, its Shariatpur district unit convener Mohsin Madbor and local AL leaders got stuck in the clashes.

However, Parvej Rahman was taken to a safe place by his supporters.

"Some supporters of two councillor candidates engaged in scuffles over speaking against one another during a yard meeting of Awami League for the upcoming Shariatpur municipality election," Parvej Rahman told The Daily Star.

According to the local Awami League leaders and activists, both councillor candidates -- Abdur Rashid Sardar and Farid Sheikh -- are followers of Shariatpur-1 lawmaker Md Iqbal Hossain.

Azahar, a supporter of councillor candidate Farid Sheikh, alleged that Rashid Sardar did not develop the ward during his tenure as a councillor.

When they spoke about the matter, his [Rashid] supporters attacked them, Azahar claimed.

However, Rashid Sardar said, "Councillor candidate Farid Sheikh is an accused in a drug case. When his elder brother spoke against drug, Farid's supporters clashed with us."

"On information, police rushed to the spot and controlled the situation," said Md Aslam Uddin, officer-in-charge of Palong Police Station.

According to the district election office, Shariatpur municipality polls is scheduled to be held on January 16.