At least six people were injured in a clash between two groups of the Awami League and BNP over control of the cattle market in Raipur, Lakshmipur.
The conflict involved the group led by former UP chairman and Awami League leader Rashid Mollah and the group led by former UP chairman and BNP leader Harunur Rashid Howlader.
According to locals, supporters of BNP leader Harunur Rashid Howlader attacked Awami League men between Friday and Saturday.
The injured individuals are: Md Humayun, 35, Ruhul Amin, 42, Alamgir Hossain, 37, Dulal Soiyal, 48, Belal Hossain, 42, and Alamgir Mollah, 38.
On Saturday, during the midday hours, both sides took armed positions on the dam over the cattle market at Mollarhat.
Upon receiving reports of the situation, assistant commissioner (land), with the army's assistance, intervened to bring the situation under control.
Subsequently, he oversaw the collection of market fees through the office staff.
Raipur Assistant Commissioner (land) Shahed Arman said: “After receiving news of the cattle market takeover and the fight, the army was dispatched to control the situation. Until the issue is resolved, the collection of market fees will be managed by the land office staff and deposited into the government treasury.”
Local businessmen, villagers from Charkachia, and several eyewitnesses indicated that for the past 30 years, the cattle market in Mollarhat, located in front of the South Charbongshi Union Parishad, had been controlled by Awami League leader and former UP Chairman Abdur Rashid Mollah for fee collection.
After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, following the anti-discrimination student movement, the cattle market at Mollarhat, in Raipur was relocated to the land of former UP Chairman and BNP leader Harunur Rashid Howlader.
The upazila administration entrusted the responsibility of collecting revenue through the students and people of the union and depositing the money in the government treasury.
On September 28, Rashid Mollah and his supporters attempted to reinstate the cattle market in front of the union council and collected fees again.
The news of preparing to set up the market in the same location again on the following Saturday led to the severe beating of six of Rashid Mollah’s supporters by Howlader's group on Friday evening and throughout Saturday.
In response to the incident, both Abdur Rashid Mollah and Harunur Rashid Howlader provided conflicting statements.
Raipur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Imran Khan said: “The situation regarding the cattle market in Mollarhat currently under control. Until a resolution is found, the collection of fees will be managed by the land office staff and deposited into the government treasury.”
