Police raid several areas of Sitakunda to arrest men seen displaying firearms during BNP clash

Police have launched raids in several areas of Chittagong's Sitakunda upazila to arrest three people identified in connection with the public display of firearms during a clash between two BNP factions yesterday (1 September), Chattogram District Police Superintendent Mohammad Masud Alam said today (2 September).

Speaking to The Business Standard, he said police were raiding Jungle Salimpur and other possible areas with assistance from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

Yesterday, a clash broke out between two BNP factions in the Sitakunda municipality area during a programme marking the party's founding anniversary. Supporters of former Chattogram (North) District BNP joint convener Kazi Salauddin and former BNP joint secretary general Aslam Chowdhury were present at the programme.

The incident involved chase and counter-chase between the two groups, while there were allegations of cocktail explosions and gunfire. Police said no shooting took place and that only firecrackers were set off.

A video circulated on social media showed a young man wearing a blue panjabi and jeans moving around the area while carrying what appeared to be a firearm.

However, The Business Standard could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

Chattogram SP Masud said police had identified two youths seen carrying firearms during the incident -- one wearing a panjabi and the other a half-sleeved T-shirt -- and Rokon Uddin, the head of the Rokon group in Jungle Salimpur, who was seen at the scene wearing bulletproof clothing.

"We have already identified three people, including Rokon. Raids are being conducted in Jungle Salimpur and other possible areas to arrest them. RAB's assistance has also been taken in the operation," he said.

District police and RAB conducted a special operation from 4pm to 7pm today in Alinagar and Chinnamul after receiving information that members of criminal groups had gathered in different parts of Jungle Salimpur, he added.

The operation was conducted under the direction of SP Masud Alam and led by Additional Superintendent of Police Junaid Kawsar.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Public Relations) Mohammad Russell told The Business Standard that police had received tip-offs from various sources over the past few days that members of criminal groups were gathering in different parts of Jungle Salimpur.

"Based on those tip-offs, district police and RAB conducted the operation in several teams," he said, adding, "Our main objective was to arrest those gathering there. At the same time, we wanted to ensure that they could not create fear among locals, extort money or commit any other crime."

Russell said no one was arrested during today's operation.

"Several people were identified, and their names and addresses were collected. Efforts to arrest them are continuing. A police team led by the officer-in-charge is still working in the area, while other teams are also conducting raids," he added.

Regarding yesterday's incident, Aslam Chowdhury and Kazi Mohammad Salauddin blamed each other's followers for the clash.

Salauddin alleged that armed men attacked his supporters, saying around 500 to 700 people had come to the scene and some of them were carrying firearms.

He claimed that men associated with Rokon and Mursalin were among the attackers and that several of his supporters were injured.

He also alleged that several offices and other establishments associated with his group were vandalised and looted.

However, the allegations could not be independently verified by TBS.

Aslam Chowdhury denied the allegations and told TBS that he had not reached the programme venue when the clash took place.

"I have no knowledge of any allegation that my people or followers attacked anyone with firearms. I had not even reached the programme," he said.