Two cases have been filed over a clash between Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP activists in Lakshmipur.
One of the cases was filed by Jamaat accusing 170 people, and the other was filed by BNP accusing 217 people, Chandraganj Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Morshed Alam said on Saturday night.
He said that Hezbullah, president of ward 4 in the Charshahi union unit of Jamaat’s youth wing, filed the case against 170 people — 10 named and 160 unnamed. On the other hand, BNP activist Kamal Hossain from the same union filed the case naming 17 and accusing another 200 unidentified individuals.
The clash occurred on Thursday afternoon in the Batgachtala area of ward 7, Charshahi union, leaving at least 10 people injured from both sides. They were admitted to the district hospital.
BNP men alleged that Jamaat members were collecting voters’ national ID cards under the guise of a women’s meeting. When BNP tried to stop them, Jamaat attacked.
Lakshmipur-3 Jamaat candidate Md Rezaul Karim said, “BNP men obstructed our women’s programme. It was resolved, but later they attacked our male activists again. We demand a proper investigation and legal action against those involved.”
Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, BNP candidate of the same constituency, said, “The clash erupted when Jamaat activists were collecting ID cards from voters. I visited not only injured BNP men but also Jamaat men at the hospital and spoke with them. I urge the administration to conduct a fair investigation and take action.”
OC Morshed Alam said, “Jamaat and BNP have filed counter-cases over the incident. The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to arrest the accused.”
Meanwhile, District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner SM Mehedi Hasan convened a meeting with candidates from Lakshmipur’s four constituencies to brief them on the electoral code of conduct for the 13th Parliamentary Election.
The Charshahi clash was discussed in the meeting, and Returning Officer Mehedi Hasan and District Police Superintendent Md Abu Tarek urged both sides to abide by the code of conduct.
