Raozan clash: BNP dissolves Ctg north committee, suspends vice-chairman Giasuddin

The BNP has dissolved its Chattogram north district convening committee and suspended Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury from his post as party vice-chairman following a clash between rival party factions in Raozan.

The decisions were confirmed late last night (29 July) in two separate party notices signed by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the first notice, the party declared the dissolution of the north Chattogram district BNP convening committee, stating that a new committee will be formed soon.

The second notice announced the suspension of Giasuddin. Additionally, five other local leaders have been expelled from all levels of party membership for gross violations of party discipline through internal conflict and violence.

The action follows a reported violent clash between supporters of Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury and North Chattogram BNP Convenor Golam Akbar Khandaker on the Chattogram–Rangamati highway in Raozan earlier yesterday (29 July) afternoon.

The clash left at least 20 people injured.

During the clash, Golam Akbar was injured after his convoy came under attack.

BNP chairperson’s adviser Golam Akbar injured in Raozan convoy attack

Raozan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Monirul Islam Bhuiyan told reporters that the clash occurred when one group was heading for a grave visit and another was holding a procession.

"The two sides confronted each other at the upazila's Sattarhat area, prompting police intervention to restore order. Traffic movement was briefly halted but later resumed," the OC said.

According to media reports, in the past year, a total of 13 killings have occurred in incidents of violence in Raozan, 10 of which were politically motivated. Factional clashes between two BNP groups have taken place at least a hundred times, leaving over 300 people with gunshot injuries.

The now-dissolved committee was formed on 22 December 2020, with Khandaker appointed as convenor.