Police, journalists among 60 injured in Bhanga clash

At least 60 people, including police personnel, politicians and a journalist, were injured in a bloody clash between two groups over local supremacy in Bhanga, Faridpur, on Sunday, June 28.

The clash, which lasted from morning to midday, halted traffic on the Dhaka-Barishal highway for nearly three hours, causing severe suffering for commuters.

According to local sources, there had been a long-standing dispute over control of the Pukhuria bus stand between residents of 11 villages under Maheshwardi mouza in Hamirdi union and 5 villages under Pukhuria mouza in Manikdah union. The dispute escalated after a man was beaten at the bus stand on Saturday evening.

The clash began around 7:00 am on Sunday when people from the Maheshwardi area attacked the Pukhuria bus stand. By 9:30 am, the clash had turned violent, with thousands from both sides using local weapons and brickbats on the highway. Shops were vandalised and looted.

The highway remained blocked from 9:45 am to 12:45 pm. Police fired seven tear gas shells but struggled to control the situation. Additional police, RAB and Ansar personnel were deployed after the district administration intervened.

Bhanga Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Tansiv Jubayer said 30 people had received treatment at the hospital by 3:00 pm, with 13 admitted and three referred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital. Among the injured were Additional Superintendent of Police (Bhanga Circle) Rezowan Dipu and Bhanga Police Station OC Mizanur Rahman.

The injured also included three Sub-Inspectors, four constables, Bhanga upazila BNP president Khondkar Iqbal Hossain, and journalists from three national dailies.

Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Md Mazharul Islam said additional forces were sent to control the situation, and traffic resumed around 12:45 pm after the situation calmed.

Bhanga Police Station OC Mizanur Rahman said legal action is being taken against those involved, and additional police have been deployed in the area.