15 injured in BNP-Jamaat clash in Bhola

At least 15 people were injured in clashes between activists and supporters of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami during election campaigning in Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola. Among the injured, eight were treated at Borhanuddin and Bhola hospitals. Allegations of vandalism at a BNP activist’s house were also reported.

The incident took place at ward 7 of Tobgi union on Saturday morning. BNP and Jamaat blamed each other for the clash with counter allegations.

Borhanuddin upazila Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Maulana Maqsudur Rahman said Jamaat leaders and activists went to conduct election campaigning for the scale symbol in ward 7 of Tobgi union on Saturday morning. While passing in front of Chowkidar Bari, BNP activists led by Bahar and Saurabh, along with Yousuf, Ayub, Shamim, Sohag and Yunus, obstructed them and attacked with sticks.

He claimed 10 to 12 Jamaat activists, including union Jamaat ameer Abdul Halim, were injured. Those seriously injured include Faizullah, Emon, Abdul Halim, Shahe Alam, Raihan, Shamim and Tanzil. Six were admitted to Borhanuddin upazila health complex while two critically injured were admitted to Bhola 250-bed General Hospital. Jamaat later organised a protest march.

Making counter allegations, Borhanuddin upazila BNP senior joint convener Sarwar Alam Khan said some Jamaat activists went to campaign at the house of a BNP activist around 7am. At that time, a woman was bathing in the house. An argument broke out between activists of the two parties, which later turned into scuffles at a local market, leaving four to five people injured. He alleged Jamaat activists later gathered and conducted drills in the area and vandalised the house of a BNP activist.

Chief election coordinator of BNP candidate Md Hafiz Ibrahim, Md Akbar Hossain, alleged at a press conference that Jamaat activists attacked and vandalised the house of BNP activist Yousuf at Ali Mia Chowkidar Bari. He said the family members resisted the attack and BNP would file a case over the incident.