Over 50 injured as BNP factions lock horn in Ishwardi

At least 50 people, including police personnel, were injured in a fierce clash between two groups of BNP and its affiliates over dominance in Ishwardi in Pabna.

The clash, which began at 12 noon on Monday (March 23), lasted for several hours. Police and army personnel have been deployed to bring the situation under control.

According to local sources, the clash began due to a long-standing dispute between supporters of Pabna district BNP convener Habibur Rahman Habib and former member secretary of the Upazila Swechchhasebak Dal Mehedi Hasan.

Earlier, on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, former Chhatra Dal president Imrul Kayes Sumon, Jubo Dal leader Shyamal and some others were attacked and their office was vandalised and looted. On Monday morning, the two groups held separate press conferences at the Post Office intersection and the bus stand area to protest the incident and demand justice.

After the press conference, the two sides took out a protest procession and faced off at the Railgate and Post Office intersection areas. Eyewitnesses said that at one stage both sides clashed with local weapons, sticks and bricks. Later, there was a gunfight, which created extreme panic in the area.

During the clash, several motorcycles were set on fire and party offices were vandalized. As the situation escalated, shops in the city closed and ordinary people started running for safe shelter.

When the police initially failed to control the situation, additional police and army were later deployed. The situation was brought under control after a few hours of effort. Several policemen were also injured while trying to stop the clash.

Ishwardi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mominuzzaman said that the clash between the two sides was centered on establishing dominance. Although the situation is currently under control, additional security has been tightened across the city.

At least 50 leaders and activists and pedestrians are among the injured. They are being treated at Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex and various private clinics. The seriously injured have been sent to Pabna Sadar Hospital. Among them, Mustafa Noor-e-Alam Shyamal, former convener of Ishwardi Municipal Jubo Dal, has been transferred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Habibur Rahman Habib alleged in this incident that a disorderly group attacked the party's peaceful program and destabilized the situation. However, the statement of the other party is not known.

Currently, the situation is tense in the entire Ishwardi city.