At least 15 people, including the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kalkini Police Station, were injured in a violent clash between rival factions of the BNP in Kalkini upazila of Madaripur on Monday.
According to police and local sources, Major (Retd) Rezaul Karim, a BNP nomination aspirant for the Madaripur-3 constituency in the upcoming national elections, led a procession of 200 to 300 supporters into the Kalkini upazila office premises around noon.
While addressing his supporters at the Shaheed Minar located on the upazila office grounds, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Saif Ul Arfeen intervened, requesting him not to deliver a speech at the office premises. Rezaul Karim was then taken to the UNO’s office for discussion.
Shortly afterward, tensions flared when HM Tuhin, the publicity secretary of the Kalkini municipal unit of Chhatra Dal and a supporter of another BNP nomination seeker, central committee Assistant Secretary for Mass Education Asinur Rahman Khokon Talukder, became involved in an altercation with Rezaul Karim’s followers.
The argument quickly escalated into a violent clash. Both groups armed themselves with sticks and local weapons, engaging in a chase and counter-chase in the area.
Police, led by ASP Chatak Chakma, rushed to the scene in an attempt to restore order. During the intervention, ASP Chakma and OC Sohel Rana were among those injured in the clash. All injured individuals were admitted to the Kalkini Upazila Health Complex.
ASP Chakma later stated, “We arrived to control the situation, but I and another officer were injured during the clash. The situation is now under control, but the possibility of further violence remains. Additional police forces have been deployed to ensure law and order.”
UNO Saif Ul Arfeen added, “Rezaul Karim was leading a procession with several supporters inside the upazila office compound. I asked him to stop and brought him to my office. Soon after, some individuals attacked his group.”
Attempts to contact both Rezaul Karim and Asinur Rahman Khokon for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to their phones went unanswered.
The situation in Kalkini remains tense, with heightened security in place to prevent further unrest.
