At least 15 people, including a woman, were injured in a clash between supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Gono Odhikar Parishad in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali Thursday night.
The incident occurred at around 9:00pm at Dakshin Kupalbera crossing in Charshiba village under Charkazal union allegedly over an argument about who would get the party nomination鈥擝NP leader Hasan Mamun or Gona Odhikar president Nurul Haque Nur, popularly known as VP Nur.
The injured BNP men are Charshiba ward Juba Dal organising secretary Ilias Rarhi, members Sabuj Rarhi, Nur Nabi Rarhi, Hasan聽 Rarhi, Kuddus Bepari, Yakub Rarhi, Omar Rarhi, Rahan Rarhi and Soleman Rarhi.
The injured Gona Odhikar men are Ward Juba Odhikar general secretary Md Sohel Khalifa, activists Azmir Khalifa, Shahabul Khalifa, Amena Begum, Naeem Khalifa and Nabin Khalifa.
The injured from both sides were admitted to the upazila health complex.
Locals said the Gono Odhikar Parishad organised a meeting in Kupalbera Bazar Thursday evening to form a ward committee, with activists joining from different areas on motorcycles.
Meanwhile, BNP activists under Charkazal union unit brought out a procession to greet BNP central executive committee member Hasan on the eve of the party鈥檚 鈥楴ational Revolution and Solidarity Day鈥� on Friday.
After both events concluded, the two groups encountered each other at Dakshin Kupalbera crossing where an argument broke out over who would get the nomination in the area.
The altercation soon turned into a clash, leaving at least 15 people injured.
Injured Juba Dal leader Ilias claimed that they were returning home after a welcome procession for Hasan when Gono Odhikar activists suddenly attacked them.
They earlier invited BNP supporters to their meeting but he told them not to go since they would follow Hasan鈥檚 directives, Ilias said.
GOP activists started saying Hasan would not get the nomination, that it would go to Nurul and then attacked them, he alleged.
Amena Begum, mother of injured Gona Odhikar activist Azmir, said her son was assaulted by BNP men near their home as he returned from the party meeting. 鈥榃hen I ran to save him, they hit me too,鈥� she said.
Aminul Islam Nur, vice-president of Dhaka North Juba Odhikar Parishad and brother of Nur, said the BNP men attacked their supporters after their procession.
They were trying to spread fear so that no one joins their party, he said, adding that Hasan鈥檚 supporters are agitated as he might not get the nomination.
BNP leader Hasan said they heard about the incident but were still gathering details.
He urged the police to conduct an investigation and take action against those responsible.
Officer-in-charge Md Ashadur Rahman of Galachipa police station said police had been deployed immediately after the clash.
鈥楾he two sides belong to rival families with prior disputes over local influence. Both groups were injured and taken to hospital,鈥� he said, adding that no written complaint has been filed yet.
