38 injured as rival AL, BCL groups clash

At least 38 people were injured in separate clashes between rival factions of the ruling Awami League in Jessore and Sylhet districts on Saturday, reports our correspondents.

In Jessore, at least 28 people sustained injuries when a clash erupted between two rival groups of AL at Bherchhi Bazar in Keshabpur upazila of the district on Saturday night.

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Several of them were admitted to Kashabpur Upazila Health Complex and Khulna Medical College Hospital, while the rest took primary treatment at local hospital and clinics.

Quoting locals, Officer-in-Charge Mahtab Uddin of Keshabpur Police Station said there had been a longstanding rivalry between two local AL leaders--SM Habib and Jakir Hossain--over establishing supremacy in the area.

Mahbub, a supporter of Habib, locked in an altercation with a supporter of Jakir over a trifling matter around 7:00pm.

At one stage, both the groups equipped with sharp weapons attacked each other that left at least 28 people injured, the OC added.

On information, police went to the spot and fired several blank shots to disperse the clashing groups and brought the situation under control.

Away in Sylhet, at least 10 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League were injured in a clash between rival groups of the party in Bishwanath upazila on Saturday afternoon.

Of the injured, Mujib Mia, Khaled Ahmed and Shamim Mia received treatment at Bishwanath Upazila Health Complex.

Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Hossain of Bishwanath Police Station said a group led by Rajon and another by Abdur Rouf locked in a clash over establishing supremacy in Bishwanath Degree College compound around 4:00pm that left 10 BCL men injured.

On information, police went to the spot, dispersed the clashing groups and brought the situation under control, the OC added.