3 injured as rival groups clash in Munshiganj; BNP office and houses vandalised
The two groups had been involved in a long-standing rivalry and had clashed several times in the past, says police
At least three people were injured and a local BNP office along with several houses were vandalised during a series of clashes between two rival groups over local dominance in Char Balaki village of Gazaria upazila in Munshiganj today (1 June).
The injured were identified as Musa, 70, Sumon, 35, and Jiku, 28. Sumon and Jiku, who sustained serious injuries, were referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.
Confirming the incident, Gazaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Hasan Ali said the two groups had been involved in a long-standing rivalry and had clashed several times in the past.
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"We have received reports of vandalism at several houses and a party office. The matter is being investigated and legal action will be taken accordingly," the OC said.
According to locals, tensions had been simmering since the last parliamentary election between Musa, a supporter of Munshiganj-3 lawmaker Md Kamruzzaman and Shahor Ali, a supporter of independent candidate Md Mohiuddin.
The latest violence erupted around noon when Musa and Shahor Ali were reportedly involved in an argument and a scuffle near a local Eidgah.
Shortly afterwards, supporters of upazila Jubo League leader Nazmul Islam and Jubo Dal leader Anwar Hossain Pradhan allegedly engaged in a chase-and-counter-chase that escalated into a clash.
During the violence, the BNP offices of Wards 8 and 9 of Hosendi union and at least five houses were vandalised.
Musa alleged that Shahor Ali and his son had assaulted him several months ago and today's altercation began when he sought a resolution to the previous incident.
He claimed Shahor Ali identifies himself as a BNP supporter but is actually aligned with Jubo League leader Nazmul Islam.
Jubo Dal leader Anwar Hossain accused Nazmul Islam of orchestrating a planned attack on his supporters.
"More than 200 people armed with local weapons attacked us. They vandalised our party office, my house, and the homes of several others, including Haji Nur Islam, Iqbal Hossain, Shukkur Ali and Jiku," Anwar alleged.
However, Nazmul Islam denied the allegations, claiming that Anwar's supporters attempted to assault him without provocation.
"The allegations of vandalising party offices and houses are completely false. They damaged their own properties and are trying to blame us. This is not a political conflict but a personal dispute," he said.
Meanwhile, CCTV footage circulating on social media shows seven to eight individuals carrying local weapons and attacking the homes of Anwar Pradhan and his supporters.
Earlier, the same groups were involved in violent clashes in the village on 24 September last year and 5 April this year over local dominance, leaving at least 19 people injured and causing extensive damage to residential properties.
