15 injured in clash and firing between two BNP groups in Pabna

ছবিঃ সিএনআই

Pabna Correspondent: A clash broke out between two BNP groups in Sujanagar, Pabna, over mobile phone use. Upazila BNP member secretary Sheikh Abdur Rouf was seriously injured in the incident. At least 15 people were also injured, it has been reported.

The incident took place at around 2:30 pm on Wednesday (July 9) in the Nandita Cinema Hall area of ​​Sujanagar Paurbazar.

The injured are: Sujanagar Upazila BNP member secretary Sheikh Abdur Rouf (50), Sujan Ali (35), son of Jalal Uddin of Char Sujanagar, Sheikh Manzed Ali (30), Yakub Ali (56), son of Shukur Ali of Char Bhawanipur, Alhaj Hossain (40), Jubo Dal activist Manik Kha (35), Sabuj Kha (30), son of Rashid Kha of Char Bhawanipur, Abdur Rahman (45), son of Abdus Sattar of Char Sujanagar, Shakil Kha (25), son of Monayem Kha of Masterpara of Sujanagar, Riaz Khan (25), son of Altu Khan of Char Sujanagar, Tikka Khan (60), Tushar (40), Aslam (45) and Manzil (30) sons of Azhar Ali of Kachipara of Chartarapur in Pabna Sadar. The names and addresses of the others were not available.

Police and local sources said that on Tuesday (July 8), the phone of Ashiq, a follower of former joint secretary of Sujanagar Upazila BNP Mujibar Khan, was snatched and broken by Chhatra Dal leader Kausar, nephew of Upazila BNP member secretary Abdur Rouf Sheikh, and his followers, over talking to a woman on the phone.

The incident was resolved that day, but the Kausars called Ashiq again in front of the cinema hall the next day, Wednesday afternoon. At that time, Ashiq called his cousin Chhatra Dal leader Sabuj to meet the Kausars. At one point, a fight broke out between Kausar and Ashiq. When Sabuj tried to stop him, he was also beaten and stabbed. Later, Ashiq and Sabuj informed their guardians and BNP leaders. Then, they came in a group and attacked the Kausars.

At that time, when Upazila BNP member secretary Abdur Rouf went to the spot to stop both sides, he was also hacked and beaten and injured. Several rounds of gunfire also took place during this time. Seven of the injured are undergoing treatment at Pabna General Hospital and seven at Sujanagar Upazila Health Complex.

Despite efforts, it was not possible to contact BNP leaders Abdur Rouf Sheikh and Mujibar Khan in this regard.

In this regard, Sujanagar Upazila BNP convener Toufiq Hasan Alhaj said that the clash is not a party issue. It is a regional or personal issue. Still, such an unpleasant incident is really condemnable. The culprits in the incident should be punished.

Sujanagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mujibar Rahman said that there has been a dispute between the two groups of the local BNP for a long time over dominance. The police are still not clear about what exactly happened today. After receiving the information, the police force went to the spot and took control of the situation. I heard that some people were injured in the incident caused by both groups. Additional police and army personnel have been deployed at the scene. The police are working to uncover the true circumstances. Legal action will be taken if a complaint is received.