At the conference of the Satkhira Union BNP, a clash between two factions resulted in ten injuries; the conference was disrupted; Section 144 for indefinite time period was imposed to maintain control, as confirmed by the Upazila Executive Officer Krishna Roy.
The army and police have been deployed at the scene to control the situation.
It is known that there had been tensions among the leaders and workers of BNP in various unions of the Ashashuni Upazila for several days before the conference.
On Wednesday, a workers' conference of Bujhata Union BNP was held at the Padma Beula Cyclone Shelter School Ground in the Upazila with the aim of forming a committee.
The Upazila BNP's Election Commission had previously announced an election schedule, and Al Abdur Rob was elected as president and Membar Abdur Rob as the organizational secretary uncontested.
As two candidates were contesting for the general secretary position, voting began at the start of the conference.
Around 11:30am, local time, workers who were deprived of positions from the ward and union BNP committees, along with more than a hundred leaders and workers from the opposing faction, arrived at the conference venue.
A clash with sticks, rods, and bricks broke out between the two factions.
The fight involved brick throwing and attacks with rods and sticks, resulting in injuries to at least ten people, including Upazila Chhatra Dal convenor Arafat Hossain Palash, former vice-president of the Jubo Dal Bakul, former president of the Union Chhatra Dal Shafi, Kollol, Dipu, Ashik, Shafiqul, Ashafur, and others from the opposing faction, including Upazila BNP's joint convenor Robiul Awwal Chhoto, Jubo Dal’s agriculture secretary Romjan, and Jubo Dal worker Azminur.
When the police failed to control the situation, Upazila Executive Officer Krishna Roy, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Rashed Hossain, along with additional police and army personnel, arrived at the scene and dispersed the crowd.
The law enforcement agencies took control of the area by removing everyone from the conference site.
The situation is currently calm, but a tense atmosphere remains. Previously, on Monday, due to the conflicting positions of both groups, the Ashashuni Sadar Union BNP conference was also canceled with the intervention of the administration.
Among the organizers of the conference, Upazila BNP member secretary Mashiul Huda Tuhin, joint convenor Abdul Alim, Robiul Awwal Chhoto, and Jubo Dal member secretary Abu Zahid Sohag said that they had been conducting voting as per the prior announcement since 10am.
They claimed that the opposing side, with a plan, attacked the conference with rods, sticks, and bricks, disrupting the event.
When the workers and public formed resistance, the attackers were forced to retreat. They then resumed voting peacefully, with many voters casting their ballots.
However, they criticized the imposition of Section 144 and the removal of the leaders and the voters who had come to vote, which they said led to the disruption of the conference.
On the other hand, another faction of Upazila BNP, including convenor Asifur Rahman Tuhin, member secretary Zakir Hossain Bachchu, and joint convenor Khairul Ahsan, said that the decision of the Khulna divisional team on January 16 was ignored, and the committee was secretly formed before the scheduled date by excluding the dedicated leaders and including Awami League activists.
When the conference was started on Wednesday, their workers were attacked and injured. They have called for intervention from higher authorities and demanded the removal of Habibur Rahman Habi from his responsibilities, warning that any future conference would be resisted.
Bujhata Union BNP member secretary Khorshed Alam mentioned that they were holding the conference, and a clash occurred when the other group intervened. He confirmed that several members, including Upazila Chhatra Dal convenor Yassir Arafat Palash, Bakul, Shariful, Ashik, Kollol, Dipu Romjan Ali, Monirul, Azminur, Hashem Ali, Mithu, were injured in the conflict.
Among the injured, Upazila Chhatra Dal convenor Yassir Arafat Palash was sent to the Satkhira Medical College Hospital in critical condition.
Ashashuni Police Station Officer-in-Charge Noman Hossain confirmed that a clash had occurred between two factions of the BNP.
He said that due to the worsening law and order situation, Section 144 had been imposed by the Upazila administration.
The police are actively working to maintain peace and order in the area.
