AL, BNP clash for hours over road march
Chitalmari UNO among 11 hurt
At least 11 people including Chitalmari UNO, OC and an Ansar member were injured in clashes between Awami League (AL) and BNP activists over joining the BNP's road march towards Khulna in the bus stand area of the upazila town yesterday.
Local Awami League and BNP offices and eight shops were vandalised during clashes.
The injured are UNO Sohel Hasan, officer in-charge of Chitalmari police station Hasan Hafizur Rahman, Ansar member Chandu Mia, upazila BNP general secretary Tulu Biswas, 45, Jamal Kazi, 40, Hadi Munshi, 42, Shipon Munshi, 25, Zahid Sheikh, 24, Sumon Sheikh, 24, Keramot Sardar, 40, and caretaker of the AL upazila unit office Kawsar Munshi, 55.
Witnesses and police said when the local BNP leaders and activists were going to attend the roadside rally of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in Bagerhat Sadar upazila, a few local Awami League activists obstructed them near the bus stand, triggering clashes at about 11:00 am.
A chase and counter-chase took place between them when they pelted brickbats towards each other, turning the whole area into a battle field. The clashes continued till 3:00 pm.
Besides local AL and BNP offices, at least eight shops including fish depot, workshop, fuel, grocery and medicine shops were vandalised by the warring groups.
Some of the injured were admitted to the upazila health complex.
Officer-in-charge of Chitalmari PS Hasan Hafizur Rahman said additional three platoon police with Rab members were deployed in the area to avoid further unwanted incident. Police have already arrested five people in connection with the clash, he said.
No case was lodged till filing this report at 7:45pm.
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