A clash between BNP and Jamaat activists in Noakhali’s sadar upazila left at least 40 people injured on Sunday evening.
The incident occurred in the town’s Khasem Bazar area of the Neawajpur Union, Sudharam Model Police Station officer-in-charge Kamrul Islam confirmed.
Fazle Rabbi, the publicity secretary of Noakhali district Shibir, accused BNP leaders of attacking the Jamaat activists after a Quranic study programme organised by the Jamaat’s student wing Shibir at Khasem Bazar Jam-e-Mosque on Saturday.
He claimed that BNP leaders obstructed the program, and in response, Shibir announced another Quranic study session after Asr prayer on Sunday.
However, after the Asr prayer, BNP and its affiliates attacked Shibir leaders inside the mosque, locking them inside.
Due to stone pelting, 25 Shibir activists were injured. An ambulance was denied access when it attempted to transport the injured.
Among the critically injured were Tanveer Siam, the office secretary of Noakhali Shibir, Naim Hossain, the legal secretary and several others, including Arafat Ali, the president of Kermatiya Madrasa Shibir.
Several BNP activists also filed complaints, claiming that after the Asr prayer, Shibir activists started chanting slogans and conducting party activities in the mosque. When BNP activists tried to intervene, the Shibir members allegedly retaliated with violence.
As a result, 15 BNP leaders were injured, including Mohammad Akhtar, the publicity secretary of Neawajpur BNP, and former president of Neawajpur Union Chhatra Dal, Ziaur Rahman.
Eight of the injured were admitted to the Noakhali General Hospital.
OC Kamrul Islam said, “Police are present at the scene, and we are working to control the situation.”
