Police have arrested three suspects, including an armed man, following clashes, chases and the public display of firearms between two rival factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Sitakunda.
The confrontation arose over counter-programmes marking the political party’s founding anniversary.
The detainees have been identified as Md Sadeq Ali, 28, of Mahalanga; Kamrul Hasan, 43, of Ward No. 7, West Amirabad, under Sitakunda Municipality; and Hanif, 34. According to police, all three suspects have previous criminal cases pending against them.
Chattogram District Superintendent of Police (SP) Masud Alam briefed reporters on Tuesday at around 12pm, saying that the police had filed a case as the plaintiff concerning the clash.
In the wake of the incident, targeted police raids across the Sitakunda Police Station area led to the recovery of a locally-made single-barrel pipe gun and a large cache of local weapons, including 11 sharp knives, three curved daggers (kirich), one cleaver (da), and 15 lathis (sticks).
The violence erupted on 1 September during separate assemblies held to mark the 48th founding anniversary of the BNP in Sitakunda. The political tension quickly escalated into pursuits, counter-pursuits, and active clashes.
Footage and photographs of several individuals brandishing firearms and local weapons during the clash went viral on social media and other media outlets, causing widespread public discussion.
Police investigations into the viral footage led to the identification of the armed individuals. One video clip showed a youth clad in a punjabi and jeans chasing opponents with a weapon. He has been identified as Sirajul Islam, a resident of Mirzabari under Haitkandi Union in Mirsarai Upazila.
The police also identified detainees Sadeq and Kamrul as the other weapon brandishers visible in the footage. While Sadeq and Kamrul are in custody, police are continuing active operations to apprehend Sirajul Islam and the remaining armed suspects.
Sources revealed that followers of Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin, the former joint convener of North District BNP, had organised a programme at the Moon Star Club in Sitakunda municipal headquarters for 3pm last Tuesday.
Simultaneously, followers of Aslam Chowdhury, the party’s former joint secretary general, prepared to host a counter-programme at the same venue, triggering extreme tension between the two factions for two days.
To manage the situation, police instructed both factions to conclude their programmes at separate times, directing Salahuddin’s group to finish by 2pm. However, Aslam Chowdhury’s followers took up positions around the Moon Star Club from 9am, whilst Salahuddin’s followers assembled near the Hasan Gomasta Mosque, located a short distance away.
At approximately 1pm, Aslam Chowdhury’s faction brought out a procession heading towards the Hasan Gomasta Mosque area, provoking immediate tension. The confrontation quickly turned violent with cocktail (crude bomb) explosions, pursuits, counter-pursuits, and clashes, resulting in the vandalism of three minibuses.
Salahuddin’s followers held Aslam Chowdhury’s supporters responsible for the cocktail explosions and the damage to the minibuses, a charge that Aslam Chowdhury’s followers have denied.
Following the incident, Chattogram District Police launched intense operations to round up those involved. Based on statements from the detainees and investigative findings, officers initially seized 11 sharp knives, three curved daggers, one cleaver, and 15 lathis, and later recovered the locally-made single-barrel pipe gun from the Sitakunda Police Station area.
