BNP factional clash leaves 25 injured

At least 25 people were injured and eight houses burnt as two factions of BNP clashed in Bagerhat yesterday evening.

Six motorcycles, refrigerators, and other valuables were also damaged during the incident happened at Kuliadair village in Bishnupur union, said locals and police.

Tensions between former Bishnupur union BNP leaders Ruhul Amin alias Ruhul Member and Mostafizur Rahman, stemming from disputes over establishing supremacy and committee formation, had been on the rise since last August.

The conflict escalated on Monday night when a scuffle injured several people.

By yesterday afternoon, over 100 people, allegedly from Mostafizur's faction, attacked the homes of Ruhul and his brothers, intensifying the clash.

Attackers vandalised and looted valuables, and set houses ablaze.

Ruhul Amin's wife, Rojina Begum, claimed the violence was politically motivated to prevent her husband from assuming party leadership.

Other family members accused Mostafizur's group of orchestrating the attack.

Mostafizur could not be reached for comment.

He previously alleged that Ruhul Amin's group, backed by Awami League leaders, had attacked his supporters earlier in the week, injuring five of them.

Superintendent of Police Mohammad Touhidul Arif said additional police personnel were deployed in the area.

"The situation is now under control," he said.