At least six individuals, including a police officer, sustained injuries during a confrontation between two factions of BNP supporters in the presence of law enforcement in Jhenaidah yesterday. The incident took place at Baruihuda Government Primary School playground in Shailkupa upazila around noon.
According to police and local sources, the conflicting groups were aligned with the recently elected BNP legislator for Jhenaidah-1, Md Asaduzzaman. The clash stemmed from rivalry that originated during the recent election campaign, with prior altercations occurring on election day.
Shakil Ahmed, the inspector (investigation) of Shailkupa Police Station, stated that tension escalated around 12:30 pm on Monday. Despite police intervention upon receiving the information, the groups engaged in a clash in the presence of law enforcement. A police constable, Sohel Rana, was injured by a brick, while four to five individuals from each group also sustained injuries.
As of yesterday evening, no formal complaint had been lodged, but efforts were underway to apprehend the offenders, as mentioned by the police. Md Asaduzzaman MP, when contacted, acknowledged the incident and urged the police to take appropriate legal measures following an investigation.
Meanwhile, during a press briefing on Sunday, Nazmul Mostafa Amin, the unsuccessful BNP candidate in the Chattogram-15 constituency, alleged that approximately 25 of his supporters had been injured in 20 separate assaults by Jamaat activists post-election day. He called for the removal of the Lohagara Upazila Nirbahi Officer, accusing the official of displaying bias towards Jamaat individuals.
In response to the allegations, Lohagara UNO Md Saiful Islam refuted the claims, asserting that he carried out his duties impartially. Additional Superintendent of Police in Chattogram, Ariful Islam Siddique, stated that while no official complaints had been received, they were investigating the reported incidents.
Attempts to reach Jamaat’s newly elected lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury for comments were unsuccessful. In Sirajganj, the district BNP chapter announced the suspension of two activists on Sunday over allegations of intimidating behavior following the election. The suspended individuals are Mostafizur Rahman Mondal, the former general secretary of Ward-4 unit BNP under Belkuchi municipality, and Shihab Mondal, the organizing secretary of Belkuchi municipal unit Chhatra Dal.
