At least 10 people were injured during clashes between the supporters of two rival BNP factions in Sitakunda, Chattogram, on Tuesday over separate programmes marking the party’s 48th founding anniversary.
Crude bomb explosions and vandalism were reported during the confrontation, while supporters of one faction later blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Bashbaria, disrupting traffic and causing severe hardship for long-distance passengers.
The clash broke out around 1pm in the Sitakunda municipal area. About an hour later, supporters of one faction took position on the highway at Bashbaria and blocked traffic.
According to party leaders, activists and local residents, the Sitakunda upazila BNP had announced two separate programmes on Monday to mark the party’s founding anniversary.
Supporters of former BNP central joint secretary general Lion Aslam Chowdhury planned to hold a rally and anniversary programme at LK Siddiqui Square at 3pm.
Meanwhile, followers of Kazi Salahuddin, a former joint convener of the North District BNP, scheduled their programme for 2pm at Moon Star Community Centre opposite the upazila parishad.
Witnesses said supporters of Aslam Chowdhury gathered in front of Moon Star Community Centre around 11am and took control of the venue designated for Salahuddin’s programme.
Police from Sitakunda Police Station and members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were deployed to the area to keep the situation under control.
Later, Salahuddin’s supporters gathered in front of National Hospital. Around 1pm, a procession led by Aslam Chowdhury’s supporters reached the area, triggering a confrontation between the two groups.
Witnesses said 10 to 12 crude bombs exploded during the clash. At least 10 people from both sides were injured, according to local sources.
At one point, supporters of Aslam Chowdhury allegedly attacked Salahuddin’s followers with sticks, forcing them to disperse. Their banners and festoons were also vandalised, witnesses said.
Following the clash, Salahuddin’s supporters blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Bashbaria around 2pm.
The blockade created long tailbacks on both sides of the highway, disrupting traffic and leaving long-distance passengers in serious difficulty.
Milton Mondal, sub-inspector of Bar Aulia Highway Police Station, confirmed that BNP activists had blocked the highway around 2pm.
“The blockade caused considerable suffering for long-distance passengers,” he said.
Mohammad Alamgir, inspector (investigation) of Sitakunda Model Police Station, said police had instructed the two factions to hold their programmes at separate times.
“Police are monitoring the overall situation. A police team is working to remove the protesters from the highway in Bashbaria,” he said.
The names of those injured and details of where they were receiving treatment were not immediately available.
Police also said they had not received immediate information about any cases being filed or arrests made over the clashes.
