10 injured as two AL factions clash in Patuakhali

At least 10 people were injured in a clash between two factions of Awami League in Baufal upazila town of Patuakhali last evening.

One of the groups was led by local lawmaker ASM Firoz while the other was led by Baufal Municipality Mayor Ziaul Haque Jewel, reports our Patuakhali correspondent.

Among the injured, Ibrahim Faruq, AL president of Baufal Municipality unit and also Nazirpur UP chairman, and Harun Or Rashid, upazila Swechchhasebak League president and also Patuakhali district council member, were rushed to Baufal Upazila Health Complex first from where they were shifted to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

Later, Ibrahim Faruq was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated further.

The other injured include Baufal Government College unit Chhatra League President Yusuf Rana (25), party activists Arif (22), Md Siddiqullah (45) and Md Mehedi (28). They are undergoing treatment at the upazila health complex.

Locals and police sources said supporters of the two factions locked into an argument after Ibrahim Faruq, a supporter of Firoz, ripped off a bouquet of Jewel Group when they were paying tribute to language heroes early on February 21.

In protest against the incident, upazila BCL unit brought out a procession from the party office at Kundapattee around 7:00pm yesterday.

When the procession was crossing the public ground, Firoz's supporters threw brick chips targeting the procession that triggered the clash, claimed Upazila Chhatra League president Saidur Rahman Hasan.

All the shops in the area were closed following the clash.

Officer-in-charge (OC) of Baufal Police Station Mostafizur Rahman said, "The situation is now under control."

Harun Or Rashid has filed a case with the police station at night over the "attack on him" and three people have been arrested in connection with the case, the OC said.

Necessary legal action is being taken in this regard, he added.