At least fifty people were injured in Bhanga Upazila, Faridpur, following violent clashes sparked by a Facebook Live broadcast alleging irregularities in the distribution of Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) rice. Several houses were also damaged during the unrest.
The incident took place in Chumurdi Union and involved supporters of a local resident and the incumbent Union Parishad Chairman. Police and local sources said tensions began when Akram Khan streamed a live video on Facebook, claiming that beneficiaries were receiving only seven to eight kilograms of rice instead of the mandated 10kg allocated for Eid-ul-Adha.
The conflict escalated on Friday evening at Bablatala bus stand, when an altercation occurred between Akram Khan and Chandan Molla, brother of Union Parishad Chairman Rafiqul Islam Sohag Molla. Supporters from both sides, armed with domestic weapons, engaged in a violent confrontation. Police said a long-standing rivalry over local dominance further fueled the clashes.
Violence resumed on Saturday morning around 7:30am at the same location. The two factions fought for nearly an hour, hurling brickbats and using domestic weapons, before police intervened to restore order. Injured individuals were admitted to Bhanga Upazila Health Complex and Faridpur Medical College Hospital.
Chairman Rafiqul Islam Sohag Molla denied the allegations, saying he was absent during the distribution due to illness and that the Union Parishad members were responsible. He accused his opponents of spreading propaganda and claimed his supporters were attacked when attempting to resolve the matter.
Akram Khan maintained that the live broadcast was necessary to highlight the deprivation of poor beneficiaries and said the violence erupted after he was assaulted for raising the issue.
Md. Al Amin Mia, Inspector (Investigation) of Bhanga Police Station, confirmed that the underlying cause was a prolonged dispute over local dominance. He noted that the viral video had escalated tensions but said the situation has now been stabilised.
