At least 15 people were injured as two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its associate bodies clashed over control of jhut business at Tongi in Gazipur.
Witnesses said that the incident took place at around 12:45pm on Saturday in front of Saturn Textile Ltd and Hop Lun Apparel Ltd (Fashion) factories on a road in the Tongi West Police Station area.
The injured included Md Russell, 30, Mahbub Hossain, 32, Babu Mia, 28, Anwar Hossain, 35, Farhad Mia, 26, Hafizul Islam, 33, Shipon, 29, Masum, 37, and Hanif Molla, 31.
During the clash, at least 20 crude bombs were detonated, and five rounds of blank shots were fired, creating panic among locals.
On information, police and members of the Rapid Action Battalion rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Locals said that there had been a long-standing conflict between supporters of Gazipur city Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal member secretary Halim Molla and Ward-50 BNP general secretary Kazi Humayun over control of jhut from the garment factories.
Tension escalated again on Saturday when the two groups locked in an altercation over removing jhut from the factories.
At one stage, the groups started throwing stones and bricks at each other.
The groups also exploded crude bombs and fired blank shots, intensifying the clash.
Witnesses also said that supporters of both the sides were seen carrying locally made weapons such as machetes, knives, and sticks during the clash.
Alauddin, a local resident, said, 鈥業 heard a loud explosion and hid with my family inside the house out of fear.鈥�
Al Mamun, a leader of Tongi Swechchhasebak Dal and a supporter of Halim Molla, claimed that even after the fall of the previous government, local Awami League leaders continued to operate the jhut business at Saturn factory.
He alleged that Kazi Humayun attacked them to protect the Awami League鈥檚 interests.
Kazi Humayun, on the other hand, told reporters that Halim Molla was trying to forcibly seize his jhut business contract and 150-200 of Halim鈥檚 men armed with sharp weapons attacked them and detonated crude bombs.
He said, 鈥榃e both are followers of Gazipur city BNP general secretary Manjurul Karim Roni.鈥�
Tongi West Thana BNP convener Basir Uddin said that those involved in this violence tarnished the party鈥檚 image, and organisational action would be taken against them after discussions with senior leaders.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner Najmul Karim said, 鈥楾hose involved in the incident will face strict legal action, and no one will be spared.鈥�
Earlier on May 23, a clash broke out between the same two groups in front of the same factory over the same dispute that left at least 10-15 people injured.
Two separate cases were filed with Tongi East and West police stations, and two people were arrested in a joint forces operation in connection with that incident.
