10 injured in clashes between rival groups at Nagar Bhaban

At least 10 people were reportedly injured in clashes between two rival factions of the BNP-backed Jatiyatabadi Sramik Karmachari Union at the Dhaka South City Corporation's office, Nagar Bhaban, today.

The rival groups clashed twice since noon. Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khalid Mansur said, "The reason behind the clash is yet to be determined. No one has filed a complaint yet."

During the chaos, individuals believed to be supporters of BNP leader Ishraque reportedly confronted journalists who were taking photos and videos. The phone of Md Asaduzzaman Shishir, a reporter for Nagorik TV, was snatched, and the footage was deleted. Shishir said he was harassed and threatened.

Arifuzzaman Prince, general secretary of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Karmachari Union, told TBS, "Over the past two days, several city corporation employees had been barred from entering Nagar Bhaban and were threatened with physical assault."

He also alleged that they were subjected to extortion demands by Arif Chowdhury, president of another workers' faction, and his supporters. 

"When we tried to resolve the issue and enter the building, we were attacked by Arif Chowdhury, a section of city corporation employees, and some outsiders," Prince said. 

He said city corporation employees – Md Zakir, Naushad Islam, Ariful Islam, Md Mintu, Suman Mallick, and several others – were assaulted.

Refuting the allegation, Arif Chowdhury — a supporter of BNP leader Ishraque, who has been demanding to be sworn in as Dhaka South mayor — said, "As on previous days, we were peacefully staying at Nagar Bhaban on Tuesday. But outsiders suddenly attacked us and seriously injured five of our men."

Although both groups are aligned with the BNP, the Arif Chowdhury-led faction claims that the Arifuzzaman Prince-led faction is being sympathetic to the newly formed political party, National Citizen Party (NCP) and the ousted ruling party, Awami League.

During previous demonstrations at Nagar Bhaban, clashes had also erupted between the groups led by Arif Chowdhury and Arifuzzaman Prince, leading to injuries.

A planned attack to create chaos: Ishraque 

BNP leader Ishraque Hossain, the mayor-elect of Dhaka South, alleged that it was "a planned attack" carried out to disrupt citizen services and divert the movement by creating chaos at Nagar Bhaban.

He demanded that those responsible for the attack on employees at Nagar Bhaban be brought to justice without delay.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the injured at Dhaka Medical College Hospital this afternoon, he alleged that "outsiders" chanting slogans in his name launched a planned assault on Nagar Bhaban staff.

He specifically named Arifuzzaman Prince and Golam Kibria Rubel, a city corporation official, for leading the attack. Rubel could not be reached for comment.

Ishraque accused them of exploiting the party's name for personal gain and claimed that they had also benefited during the tenures of two former mayors.

"This attack was not spontaneous — it was a premeditated act," Ishraque alleged.