A clash between two BNP factions over committee announcements for Mirsharai upazila and two Chittagong municipalities erupted on Wednesday at Baraiyarhat municipal market, leaving a pedestrian dead and at least 30 injured.
The injured were taken to the local upazila health complex and various private hospitals for treatment, reports Bangla Tribune.
The deceased, Md Javed, 45, was the son of Jahangir and Zahida Begum from the Nilgiri Residential Area of Banglabazar under Bayezid police station in Chittagong. He was reportedly working as a sales representative in the marketing department of RFL Group.
Among those injured and receiving initial treatment at the upazila health complex were Suman, 35, Fazlul Karim, 43, Zahedul Islam, 42, Shahidul Islam, 51, Omar Faruk, 35, Didar, 37, Abu Sufian, 40, Fahim, 22, Ershad, 40, Golam Morshed, 40, Rashed, 50, Didarul Alam Chowdhury, 40, and Elias, 50.
Suman, Golam Morshed, Elias Hossain, and Rashed were transferred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.
Reports indicate that all the injured suffered wounds inflicted by sharp weapons.
Additionally, six other injured individuals received initial treatment at Baraiyarhat General Hospital and Baraiyarhat Medical Centre.
According to sources, on Monday, Golam Akbar Khondakar, the convener of Chittagong north BNP, announced the convening committees for Mirsharai upazila BNP, Mirsharai municipality BNP, and Baraiyarhat municipality BNP.
Following the announcement, activists deprived of positions in the committee, who support Chittagong north BNP's Joint Convener Nurul Amin, staged protest rallies in different areas of the upazila.
On Tuesday, they organized demonstrations, including a blockade of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, sweeping processions, and rallies, demanding the cancellation of the committee.
In response to these events, the upazila administration imposed Section 144 on the upazila parishad premises and its surrounding 500 yards on Wednesday, on the occasion of Independence Day.
The order prohibited all types of gatherings, rallies, processions, mass assemblies, and the carrying of explosives, firearms, or traditional weapons. The movement of five or more people together was also restricted.
However, around noon on Wednesday, a group of over 1,000 BNP activists, led by former upazila BNP member secretary Gazi Nizam Uddin from Nurul Amin's faction, paid tribute at the local Shaheed Minar with floral wreaths.
They also chanted various party slogans. After placing the wreaths, BNP leaders and activists left the upazila premises without any obstruction from law enforcement.
Once they departed, army personnel were seen taking position on the upazila parishad premises.
Azizur Rahman Chowdhury, the member secretary of the upazila BNP, said: "At around 10am on Wednesday, supporters of our group were attacked near the residence of Baraiyarhat municipality BNP Convener Main Uddin Liton. Motorcycles were vandalized and set on fire."
He added: "Later, at noon, when we entered Baraiyarhat municipal market with a procession, we were attacked by Nurul Amin's group. During this attack, pedestrian Javed was killed on the spot, and nine others were injured."
BNP’s Baraiyarhat Municipality Convener Main Uddin Liton alleged that armed assailants led by Didarul Alam Miyazi attacked their activists in the morning, injuring 10-15 people. He further claimed that the attackers later vandalized their homes and remained armed in Baraiyarhat municipal market until the evening.
Former Upazila BNP member secretary Gazi Nizam Uddin said: “We peacefully broke Section 144 to place floral tributes at the Shaheed Minar. There was no situation warranting the imposition of Section 144 over a simple act of laying flowers. It is unclear why the administration took such a measure.”
Jorarganj police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sabbir Mohammad Selim confirmed the incident and assured that the situation was under police control.
Mirsharai UNO Mahfuza Zerin said: "Section 144 was enforced from 8am Wednesday to 8am Thursday, in the upazila parishad area. However, at 12pm, BNP activists violated the restriction by marching into the premises. Video footage has been collected, and legal action will follow. Jorarganj police have been directed to take strict measures, and army patrols have been increased."
