10 injured in Madaripur BNP factional clash

At least 10 people were injured in a factional clash between two groups of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over electioneering at Kalirbazar area of Sadar upazila in Madaripur on Wednesday, February 4.

Among the injured were identfied as Bellal Bepari, Advocate Mohidul Matubbar, Bellal Matubbar, and Jahirul Islam.

Quoting locals, Madaripur Additional Superintendent of Police Jahangir Alam, citing locals, said the clash broke out when supporters of BNP-nominated Madaripur-2 candidate Jahandar Ali Mia and independent candidate Milton Baidya confronted each other during separate campaign activities.

Tensions escalated following an exchange of slogans, which quickly turned into a clash, leaving 10  people of the both groups injured.

The injured were taken to the Madaripur 250-bed General Hospital and several private clinics. One of the injured, Bellal Matubbar, sustained critical injuries after being assaulted with a hammer and was later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Being informed, members of the army and police intervened and brought the situation under control, the police official said, adding that additional police personnel were deployed in the area to avert any kind of untoward situation.

Milton Baidya alleged that his supporters were attacked without provocation and claimed that several workers were beaten with hammers and had their mobile phones snatched during the clash.

Jahandar Ali Mia denied the allegations, saying his supporters acted in self-defence and accused the rival group of vandalising his election camp. He demanded a proper investigation into the incident.

Ayesha Siddika Akashi/MHK