20 hurt as rival Pabna BNP men clash
Intra-party opponents stage angry demonstration blocking the vehicle of BNP leader Zainal Abedin Farroque, also the Opposition chief whip in parliament, as he comes out from a court after getting bail in a defamation case in Pabna. Photo: STAR
Twenty people were injured as rival groups of BNP in Pabna yesterday locked in a clash when Opposition Chief Whip Zainal Abedin Farroque went to appear before a court to seek bail in a defamation suit. Farroque appeared in Pabna District and Sessions Judge's Court for bail in a defamation case filed by a local leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League for passing 'derogatory remarks' against Sajib Wazed Joy, son of the prime minister. Rival party men attacked each other with brickbats and sticks during the BNP leader's entry into the court and also during his departure after gaining bail from the court, said witnesses and Pabna BNP leaders. Supporters of expelled district unit leaders chanted slogans, lay down on the street in front of Farroque's vehicle at Traffic Moar near the court. They demanded withdrawal of expulsion of Kamrul Hassan Mintu, the former organising secretary of district unit BNP, also mayor of Pabna municipality, and Anisul Haque Babu, former secretary of Pabna Sadar upazila BNP. Some party men and police escorted the Opposition chief whip to safety. Police also charged batons on the fighting groups to bring the situation under control. Pabna Sadar upazila BNP President KM Musa, Organising Secretary Salim Sardar, Pabna district unit JCD Secretary Siddikur Rahman Siddik and activist Nur Mohammad Masum were seriously injured during the clashes. Sixteen other leaders and activists also sustained injuries. Secretary of Pabna district unit BNP Habibur Rahman Tota and expelled leader Anisul Haque Babu later blamed each other for the violence. There has been feud in Pabna BNP over expulsion of a few leaders after the last upazila elections and non-inclusion of some leaders in the district committee, said party sources.
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