Two rival factions of BNP clashed in Babuganj upazila of Barisal over
holding iftar party at same venue Friday.
Sources said, Administration imposing section 144 in the area
controlled the situation by baton charges, firing 3 rounds rubber
bullets and arresting 3 BNP activists on Friday afternoon at
Rahamatpur Bridge area on Barisal-Dhaka highway of the upazila.
Four at least BNP activists were in injured in the clash.
Police, administration and local sources said BNP and Jubo Dal faction
led by Sultan Mahmud Khan, upazila chairman, expelled upazila BNP
president and follower BNP chairperson adviser Advocate Joynul Abedin
Faruk, applied for permission to hold an iftar party at Babuganj
Degree College ground Friday.
Rival BNP and upazila Jubodal faction and followers of central BNP
vice chairman Selima Rahaman also applied for the counter iftar party
at the same place, date and time.
Local administration permitted Sultan Mahmud faction as first
applicant for the venue, but the rival faction denying shifting their
progamme on alternative place, date or time, said Shah Alam, Babuganj
police station in charge.
In this situation Bakahid Hossain, upazila nirbahi officer asked to
impose section 144 from 5:00 pm to 12:30 am at the Babuganj Degree
College and surrounding areas, said Md. Shahidul Alam, district
magistrate and deputy commissioner Barisal.
Then the followers of Begum Selima Rahman taking positions at
different points of Barisal-Dhaka highway, Barisal-Lakutia-Babuganj
roads tried to prevent followers of Joynul Abedin from joining in the
iftar party.
Selima faction beating rival Joynul faction leader Kazi Nazrul Islam
Miron, former upazila BNP joint secretary and his associate torched
their two motorcycles at Rahamatpur on the highway near Barisal
Airport.
The both factions engaged in clash and chasing each-other blocking the
traffic on highway and creating panic in the surrounding areas.
Then forces of Barisal Airport Police charging baton and firing at
least 3 rounds gun shots disbursed both groups and controlled the
situation, said Md. Shahidullah, police station in charge.
Police arrested Pappu, Khalilur Rahman and Zamaluddin, three BNP
activists from the area and till this report no case was lodged in
this connection, the police official said.
Sultan Mahmud, said their iftar party held peacefully attended by
Advocate Joynul Abedin in the adjacent primary school instead of the
pre-fixed college venue as police barred them even after it was
permitted earlier by the upazila administration.
AKM Ehsanullah, district police superintendent, said police patrol
deployed in the area to maintain law and order and safety of the
vehicles and passengers plying on the highway.
Our Correspondent, Barisal
