Factional clash foils Ctg BNP rally
A running battle between two factions of Jubo Dal, a pro-BNP youth organisation, at Sholoshahar in Chittagong yesterday. The rivals were locked in a clash over moderating a preparatory meeting for the March 12 programme, “March towards Dhaka”.Photo: STAR
A Chittagong BNP rally, campaigning for the party's March 12 programme, was foiled yesterday afternoon following a clash between two rival groups of Jubo Dal that left at least 10 people injured. Before that, the vehicle of former foreign minister M Morshed Khan came under attack allegedly by rival activists in Boalkhali upazila. BNP standing committee member MK Anwar was present during both the incidents as he along with other leaders was on a campaign to drum up support for the party's 'Cholo Cholo Dhaka Cholo' (March towards Dhaka) programme on March 12. The clash took place around 2:30pm when the rally arranged by BNP's Chittagong district (south) unit was about to begin at a local community centre in Sholoshahar area. As the leaders took their seats on the stage, activists of two rival groups of BNP's youth wing Jubo Dal locked into an altercation over moderating the programme. Subsequently, the clash ensued, said party activists present at the venue. There has been a conflict between the supporters of recently declared committee and those of the previous committee of Jubo Dal's district (south) unit. President of BNP's district (south) unit, Jafrul Islam Chowdhury, also a former state minister for environment and forest, reportedly backs the now-defunct committee while former lawmakers Gazi Shahjahan Jewel, the district (south) unit general secretary, and Sarwar Jamal Nizam back the other. MK Anwar and other senior leaders left the venue following the clash. Earlier in the morning, Morshed Khan's jeep fell prey to a gang of unruly people at Phultola of Boalkhali when the former minister was leaving the place after a rally. Morshed Khan, MK Anwar and Gazi Jewel -- then on board the jeep -- narrowly escaped the attack. Jafrul and Nizam were there in the motorcade of around 50 vehicles for the campaign. The miscreants hurled stones and brick chips at the vehicle, smashing its window shield. They were chanting slogans for local BNP leader Ershadullah, said Zahirul Islam Sabuj, officer-in-charge of Boalkhali Police Station. The attackers left the scene immediately as the on-duty police members rushed to the spot. Gazi Jewel blamed local Awami League activists for the attack. It is said that there has been a conflict between Morshed Khan and Ershadullah since BNP had nominated the latter for the 2008 general elections. But he was defeated by a candidate of the 14-party combine. Morshed was in jail that time.
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