A BNP intra-party feud seems to have resurfaced as the two factions of Sramik Dal, labour wing of the party, locked in a clash that left some of its leaders and activists injured.
The clash took place centring an election held at the BNP Nayapaltan Headquarters yesterday for a new Dhaka city (south) unit Sramik Dal committee.
According to witnesses, while the vote count was going on, supporters and councilors of presidential candidate Sumon Bhuiyan launched an attack on those of his contender Kazi Amir Khosru.
Sumon’s supporters vandalised the party office furniture and at least 10 party men were injured, including Sramik Dal President Anwar Hossain.
The injured were admitted to different hospitals in the city. Later police came to the spot and brought the situation under control.
According to sources, when Sramik Dal General Secretary Nurul Islam Nasim was coming out of the party office, some aggrieved leaders and activists of the party cordoned off his vehicle and assaulted him. Later, the law enforcers came to his rescue.
The Sramik Dal president and the general secretary could not be reached over the phone for comments in connection with the incident.
However, Monjurul Islam, Sramik Dal publication and publicity secretary, described the incident as a misunderstanding. He said: “Amir Khosru was elected president and Mahbub Alam Badal general secretary.”
The Dhaka city unit Sramik Dal council was held in early April this year, but it failed to form the committee due to an intra-party feud.
Sramik Dal leaders have longstanding allegations that the BNP senior leaders nominate their personal candidates, ignoring the dedicated and tested leaders.