BNP leader's eye 'gouged out', 5 more injured in clash with Jamaat

At least six persons were injured as a clash occurred between local leaders and activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami in Nandigram upazila of Bogura.

BNP leaders and activists claim that the clash started over the capture of two Jamaat activists on charges of 'vote buying'.

The clash took place in Panshun village of Thalta Majhagram union of Nandigram upazila on Monday night.

In the wake of the incident, BNP and Jamaat held press conferences at the Bogura Press Club on Tuesday afternoon.

At a press conference held on Tuesday (February 10) afternoon, BNP candidate for Bogura-4 constituency Mosharraf Hossain alleged that Jamaat-Shibir workers attacked the house of a local BNP leader, beat him and his brother and gouged out one of his eyes.

Mosharraf Hossain said that on Monday night, former Swechchhasebak League leader Abdul Majid (now a Jamaat worker) and other Jamaat-Shibir workers went to a voter's house in Panshun village to distribute money in favour of the scale symbol.

He also said that BNP activists caught them red-handed and informed the police. But before the police arrived, hundreds of Jamaat supporters came on motorcycles carrying sticks and sharp weapons and attacked the house of local BNP leader Masud Rana, vandalized it and forcibly kidnapped the detained activists.

He said that seriously injured Masud Rana has been admitted to the Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. Doctors said that one of his eyes has been gouged out.

He also alleged that the police had a questionable role in the incident.

About an hour after the BNP press conference, Jamaat candidate for Bogura-4 constituency Mustafa Faisal held a counter-press conference at the same place.

He denied the allegations of vote buying.

Faisal claimed that BNP workers attacked July fighter Asadullah Al Ghalib on his way home after campaigning for the referendum.

Regarding the incident in Panshun village, he said, 'On the last day, our worker Faruk and others were campaigning from house to house. At that time, BNP leader Masud Rana and his brother Rabil Islam suddenly attacked them.'

'Our workers were beaten and they were taken to the house of a BNP leader and tied up.'

Faisal also said that the local police were informed before the incident was known. But since the incident took place in a remote village, it took two hours for the police to reach there.

Later, relatives of the detained people and some Jamaat supporters went there and broke the door and rescued them. He said that there was a scuffle between both parties at that time.

Faisal said, 'I have a good relationship with the BNP candidate. Neither of us want violence to happen in Kahalu-Nandigram.'

When asked, Nandigram Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mizanur Rahman said, 'I have received reports that some people (Jamaat workers) have been detained. However, I do not know exactly when the Jamaat supporters attacked and abducted them. A doctor can tell whether anyone's eye was gouged out.'

He also said that no complaint had been received in the regard till 9:15 pm on Tuesday.