At least 10 people were injured in a clash between two factions of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) reportedly over establishing dominance at Bauphal upazila in Patuakhali district.
The incident took place on Thursday at Moishadi village under Naomala union in the upazila.
Among the injured, Zahir Uddin, 60, his son Md Tanvir, 29, and Fakhrul Islam, 45, were given primary treatment at Bauphal Upazila Health Complex and later transferred to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal. Another injured, Kabir Hossain Kibria, 45, was sent to Patuakhali Medical College Hospital.
The injured are currently being treated at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal and Patuakhali Medical College Hospital.
According to local sources, there had been a long-standing dispute between BNP activist Mofiz Hawlader and Hannan Hawlader, ward President of Labour Wing of BNP’s Naomala union unit.
On Wednesday afternoon, Mofiz was allegedly beaten by supporters of Hannan over a dispute related to a football match.
Following the incident, on Thursday afternoon, a group of 15–20 people led by Zahir Uddin, Mofiz’s brother-in-law, attacked Hannan’s house.
A clash then broke out between Zahir’s group and Hannan’s family members and locals.
At one point, locals tied up Zahir to a bamboo pole and beat him.
On information, police from Bauphal Police Station rescued the injured and took them to Upazila Health Complex.
Mofizur Hawlader, Zahir Uddin’s brother-in-law, said that their family members had gone to Hannan’s house to ask about the earlier assault on him, but Hannan’s men attacked them with sticks and sharp weapons.
Hannan’s relatives, Kabir Hossain, alleged that Mofiz brought in hired thugs from another area to attack their house and carried out vandalism and assaults. In response, agitated locals caught and tied up the attackers before informing the police.
Bauphal Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Md Kamal Hossain stated that police rescued the injured and arranged medical treatment.
He added that necessary action would be taken if a written complaint is received.
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