At least five people have been injured after a faction of the local Awami League carried out an attack during a program held to celebrate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 76th birthday in Comilla on Thursday.
The injured were identified as Faruk, Rashed, Shahjan, Monir and Kamal.
The incident took place on the premises of Gazimura Kamil Madrasa in the Laksam upazila.
The Prime Minister's Personal Assistant Abdul Mannan's house was also vandalized during the attack.
A video of the incident has gone viral on Facebook. Blood stains were seen on the inside and outside the house in the video.
In this regard, Prime Minister's Personal Assistant Abdul Mannan said: "I organized a doa mahfil on the occasion of the prime minister's birthday. The main event was scheduled to begin at 4pm, but before that, people started gathering at the venue. In the afternoon, some people wearing masks attacked the event with sticks, machetes, and Chinese axes.”
Five people were severely injured in the incident, and a fruit seller named Monir is in critical condition, he added.
He said the attackers arrived on motorcycles and pickup vans. “They are supporters of a section of Awami League.”
Laksam upazila unit Awami League President and Upazila Parishad Chairman Advocate Yunus Bhuiyan could not be reached despite several attempts.
Abdullah Al Mahfuz, officer-in-charge (OC) of Laksam police station said: “We have been informed that the incident took place due to an existing dispute between the two areas. Further steps will be taken after we get all the details.”
Additional police have been deployed in the area.
