3 policemen among 25 injured as BNP factions clash in Faridpur

Two rival BNP factions engaged in violent clashes in Boalmari upazila, Faridpur on Friday afternoon, leaving at least 25 people, including three policemen injured.

During the street battles, likely stemming from rivalry over securing party nominations for elections, one group vandalised the office of the other group near the Wapda Intersection of the upazila. At least 11 motorbikes were torched during the attack, and multiple shops were ransacked.

The agitators used bamboo sticks, machetes, Chinese spades, brick bats and other local tools during the clashes. Police initially tried to pacify the groups, but later took positions on the sidelines in the face of intense attacks.

A fire engine was also attacked during the clashes, and had to abort its firefighting mission.

Around 5pm, the army arrived at the conflict site and broke up the clashes. Around 6:15pm, the situation was brought under control, said Mahmudul Hasan, officer-in-charge at Boalmari Police Station.

BNP’s unit in the upazila has remained split for about a year, and leaders of both the rival groups seeks party nominations for contesting the upcoming national elections.

Khondokar Nasirul Islam, Krishak Dal’s Central Vice-President, and Shamsuddin Mia alias Jhunu, BNP’s former joint secretary at Boalmari upazila unit, leads the two opposing factions.

Due to the stiff rivalry, the BNP high command refrained from naming a potential candidate for the Faridpur-1 parliamentary seat when announcing the draft list earlier this week.

Shamsuddin Mia’s group had to fall back to Wapda Inersection after failing to keep up with waves of attacks from the Nasirul Islam faction. Shamsuddin Mia’s office was subsequently vandalised.

LND/SAE