Four people, including BNP activists, were injured in an attack in Uttar Charbangshi Union of Raipur Upazila in Lakshmipur on Tuesday night.
Unidentified assailants exploded several crude bombs after stabbing the victims with sharp weapons at Khaserhat Bazar around 10pm.
Locals caught a suspect, Saiful Islam Sumon, 30, at the scene and handed him over to police.
Among the injured was local BNP leader Ebad Ullah Gazi, 66. He and another victim, Jahidul Islam, 15, were shifted from Raipur Upazila Health Complex to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) as their conditions were critical.
Another injured person, Khorshed Alam, 34, received treatment at the health complex.
Locals and BNP activists blamed the attack on the rival Shamim Gazi faction. Locals initially suspected it was retaliation for Shamim Gazi’s arrest under an arrest warrant on Monday night.
During questioning, Sujon claimed that another pavement cap seller, named Asif, had brought him there and offered him Tk1 lakh to kill Ebad. He said he did not personally know either Ebad or Shamim.
The attack triggered tension in the area. BNP leaders and activists later held a protest procession at Khaserhat Bazar, demanding a fair investigation and exemplary legal action against those involved.
Sanjoy Das, a doctor at Raipur Upazila Health Complex, confirmed that two victims had been referred to DMCH because of their injuries.
Nizam Uddin Bhuiyan, Officer-in-Charge of Raipur Police Station, said police had recovered remnants of an exploded crude bomb from the scene. He added that police were investigating the incident to determine the motive and identify those involved.
