15 injured as rival AL groups clash in Jhenidah

Supporters of incumbent chairman of Dogachi Union Parishad Md Foyezullah, and those of AL nominated chairman candidate Ishaque Ali Joardar, locked in a clash at Kolomomkhali village in Sadar upazila yesterday morning.

Foyezullah is also a member of Sadar upazila unit of AL, and Ishaque Ali is president of Dogachi union unit of the party. 

Police and locals said Foyezullah became angry as Ishaque Ali was nominated to run for the chairman post of the union in the election scheduled to be held on April 23.

As the news spread, the two rival groups brought out processions at Kalomonkhali Bazar at around 10:00am. At one stage, they locked in a clash, leaving at least 15 people from both sides injured.

Being informed, police rushed to the spot and fired rubber bullets to disperse the clashing groups.

Of the injured, Mofiz Uddin, 45, son of Akbar Ali of Madhunathpur village, Toyeb Ali, 48, of Haripur village, Lucky Begum, 38, wife of Pikul Joardar, and Hena Begum, 40, wife of Mizanur Rahman of Modhunathpur village, were admitted to Jhenidah Sadar Hospital, while the rest took treatment at different clinics in the district town.

Jumarat Ali, a resident of the area, told this correspondent that the two leaders were responsible for the clash. Contacted, Ishaque  Ali Joardar and Md Foyezullah blamed each other for the clash.

Contacted, Hasan Hafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said police have been deployed in the area to avert further clash.