10 injured as attack disrupts NCP protest rally in Kurigram

At least 10 people, including a member of the police's District Special Branch (DSB), were injured after an attack on a protest rally organized by the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Phulbari upazila of Kurigram on Thursday.

The NCP blamed local activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and Sramik Dal for the attack. However, Chhatra Dal rejected the allegation, claiming the violence began after NCP supporters attacked one of its activists.

The clash occurred on Thana Road, beside the central mosque in the upazila town.

The protest rally had been organized in response to an alleged assault on Azan Ahmed Shawon, member secretary of the upazila unit of Chhatra Shakti, the previous day.

According to eyewitnesses, when the procession reached Thana Road, a group of individuals armed with sticks and metal pipes attacked the marchers.

Among the injured were DSB member Ferdous and several leaders and activists of the NCP, Chhatra Shakti, and Jubo Shakti, including Towhid Hasan Shanto, Raju, Jahid Hasan, Sadikur Rahman, Rabiul Islam, Atikur Rahman, and Mehedi Hasan. Four of the seriously injured were admitted to Kurigram General Hospital.

Videos of the incident later circulated on social media. Local residents alleged that the footage showed several local leaders of Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and Sramik Dal, including Rezaul Islam Reza, Masud Rana, Mithun Chandra, Maheshwar Roy Shuvo, Al Amin Haque Nirab, Rafiqul, Sirajul Islam Sera, and Nayan Mia, and claimed they led the attack.

Rejecting the allegations, Phulbari Upazila Chhatra Dal Convener Rezaul Islam Reza said NCP activists first assaulted one of their members, after which clashes broke out between the two sides. He also claimed that four Chhatra Dal activists were injured.

Kurigram NCP Convener Mukul Mia said between 15 and 20 party activists were injured in what he described as an attack on a peaceful demonstration. He said legal action would be taken after ensuring treatment for the injured.

Phulbari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Mahmud Hasan Nayeem said district leaders of both the BNP and the NCP visited the scene following the incident and that the situation is now under control.