An altercation between two factions of the Awami League in Chittagong left 18 activists, including Professor MA Mannan Chowdhury, president of the Upazila Awami League, and police constable Mohammad Jabber injured.
The incident occurred on Friday evening during a scheduled gathering of both factions at the Upazila's Bandar Center. To control the situation, Karnaphuli police station fired six rounds of blank shots.
The clash took place between supporters of former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed and supporters of State Minister for Finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan
During the clash, enraged activists of the Awami League attacked Professor MA Mannan Chowdhury and Kaiyum Chairman and Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, president of the Barumchhara union Awami League, supported by the former minister.
According to local sources, State Minister of Finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan's group and former minister MP Saifuzzaman Chowdhury’s group organized a rally on the same day to welcome the budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year at the parliament. At one point the two groups clashed.
Jasim Uddin, the general secretary of Anwara Upazila Awami League, said: "Our supporters were attacked during the rally organized by our respected MP Saifuzzaman Chowdhury on Friday. We were assaulted when we protested.”
Kazi Mozammel Haque, chairman of Anwara Upazila, said: "This incident took place in the presence of the officer-in-charge of Karnaphuli police station. As a result, four of my activists were seriously injured."
Jahir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Karnaphuli police station, said: "To control the situation, police fired six rounds of blank shots and used tear gas shells. One of our police personnel was also seriously injured during the clash. The situation is currently under control, and police forces remain stationed to maintain order. A case has been filed at the scene."
