At least 50 people have been injured, as two BNP factions fought pitched battles at Ullapara in Sirajganj.
The two groups also vandalised and torched the party office, fired shots, and exploded homemade bombs on Sunday in a programme marking the party’s 35th anniversary.
Hundreds of panicked shopkeepers downed shutters as the battle raged.
Police said the injured were being treated at several local hospitals.
Ullapara Police Station OC Habibul Islam told journalists at the trouble had been contained by around 2pm. “We had to fire over 50 teargas shells and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.” He said additional policemen had been deployed.
The police officer, quoting eyewitnesses, said trouble started around 11am, when one faction of the party, led by General Secretary of the Ullapara unit, Azad Hossain, was holding an anniversary meeting at the party office.
Former MP and President of the unit M Akbar Ali arrived in a procession at the Upazila Sadar with nearly two thousand followers.
As the marchers went past the party office, stones were thrown at them, he said.
“At least 25 rounds of bullets were also fired. Some homemade bombs were burst,” he said, leading to a clash between the two groups.
Islam said, Akbar Ali later held a rally at the Trikola intersection around noon.
In his speech, he threatened to “drive away anyone using the BNP’s name for personal gains”. – bdnews24.com
