As many as 50 people have been injured in a clash between the activists of ruling Awami League and BNP in the southern district of Patuakhali.
The incident was reported from Khalgora area of the district’s Rangabali Upazila on Tuesday (Dec 11).
“The clash took place as AL and BNP organised party programmes at the same venues and time,” said Rangabli police OC Milon Krishna Mittra.
A local AL leader, Saiduzzaman Mamun Khan said, “We were holding a peaceful road show when suddenly BNP activists attacked us.
“At least 15 party activists and leaders were injured in the attack,” said Khan, who is the chairman of Rangabali sadar union parishad.
Witnesses say that BNP candidate for Patuakhali-4, ABM Mosharraf Hossain, called a rally at the upazila’s Shahsufi Jagiria Madrasah premises.
“On Monday, a letter was sent to Upazila Nirbahi Officer to hold the meeting at Khalgora area on Tuesday. But a group of AL supporters swept on us with arms to foil the programme leaving 30 people injured,” said Rangabali Upazila BNP President Kabir Talukdar.
20 people have been arrested over the incident, said OC Milon.