50 injured as BNP, BJP clash in Bhola

Bangla Press Desk: At least 50 people, including a police member and journalists, were injured in a clash between activists and leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP - Andaleeve Rahman Partho) in Bhola town on Saturday.

The hour-long clash that occurred in the Notun Bazar area around 12:30pm left Sadar police station Sub-Inspector Awal, Dainik Ajker Bhola Assistant News Editor and the Banglabazar Patrika’s district correspondent M Shahriar Jhilon, and News24 Cameraperson Rana Islam.

Witnesses said supporters of both parties chased each other and pelted brickbats in front of the BJP office, turning the area from Natun Bazar to Press Club into a battlefield. During the clash, several vehicles and shops were vandalised.

Informed, members of the police and the Bangladesh Navy rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Additional police personnel have been deployed at key points in the town.

Sources at the Bhola General Hospital said at least 20 injured people received treatment there. Several of the injured were sent to Barishal for better treatment.  

Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Abu Shahadat Md Hasnain Pervez said the situation remains calm at present. No party has yet submitted any written complaint. About 40 people from both sides are reported to have been injured in the clash, he added. This article was originally published on the Daily Sun.

BP/ZE