At least nine individuals sustained injuries and a residential property was set ablaze during incidents of unrest following the recent elections across five regions on Saturday.
Among the injured, six individuals were hurt as two factions of BNP supporters clashed in the Lalpur upazila of Natore during the night. The clash occurred between supporters of Farzana Sharmin Putul, who contested the election with the party ticket and emerged victorious, and Taiful Islam Tipu, an independent candidate who was formerly an assistant office secretary for BNP’s central committee.
According to locals and law enforcement, tensions had been escalating between the two groups in the lead-up to the polls, culminating in a clash at Walia Bazar around 9:00 pm on Saturday. The Officer-in-Charge of Lalpur Police Station, Md Mojibar Rahman, confirmed that at least six individuals were injured during the altercation. Two arrests were made, and a firearm was confiscated at the scene, leading to the filing of a case in connection with the incident.
Harunur Rashid Pappu, a close associate of Putul, alleged that their group was attacked by adversaries, while Taiful Islam Tipu, who held a press conference the previous day, refuted the claims, stating that his supporters were facing harassment from BNP loyalists.
In Sherpur’s Sadar upazila, a BNP activist, Giasuddin Rasel, was reportedly assaulted by alleged Jamaat supporters at night. Rasel, an election agent for BNP’s unsuccessful candidate Sansila Jebrin Priyanka, was attacked with sticks while returning home, as per his wife Kamrun Nahar Kalpana. He was subsequently admitted to Sherpur General Hospital.
Meanwhile, in Feni’s Daganbhuyan, a Jamaat activist, Nurul Absar Belal, was allegedly assaulted by BNP supporters in Dakkhin Bhabanipur village around noon on Saturday. Belal was attacked at his residence, necessitating medical attention at both the local health complex and later at Feni General Hospital.
Upon learning of these incidents, District BNP Convener Sheikh Farid expressed intentions to take organizational measures against those involved, while Superintendent of Feni police, Shafiqul Islam, emphasized that legal action would be pursued following investigations.
In another incident in Jamalpur, a journalist, Shamsul Huda Ratan, was injured in an assault allegedly carried out by a leader of Jubo Dal while covering post-election violence in Dewanganj upazila. Ratan, who serves as the president of Dewanganj Press Club and a correspondent for the daily Inqilab, recounted the attack and stated plans to lodge a complaint with the police. The accused, Faruk Ahmed, denied the allegations when contacted.
Lastly, in Khulna, a group set fire to the home of Shokor Akunji, a Jamaat supporter, in Mashiali village under Phultala upazila on Saturday night. The perpetrators remain unidentified, according to Shokor’s son Abdur Razzak. A general diary (GD) was registered at Khan Jahan Ali Police Station in response to the incident.
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