50 hurt in AL factional clash in Companiganj

At least 50 people were injured in a clash between two rival factions of ruling Awami League in Noakhali's Companiganj upazila today.

Confirming the incident, Robiul Haq, inspector (investigation) at Companiganj Police Station, said police personnel are on the spot and shot around 10-12 tear shells trying to bring the situation under control.

The clash was still going on till last reported around 8:10pm.

The clash ensued around 4:45pm in front of the AL office in Chaprashirhaat Purba Bazaar area of the upazila between the followers of Mizanur Rahman Badal, Companiganj upazila AL unit organising secretary and former upazila chairman, and those of Jamal Uddin Liton, chairman of Char Fakira union parishad, reports our Noakhali correspondent.

Badal is close aide and follower of MP Ekram Chowdhury, while Liton is a close aide of Basurhat mayor Abdul Quader Mirza

Our correspondent reports that Badal had called for his followers to gather at the AL office around 4:45pm, while followers of Liton also gathered there at the same time. This led to chase and counter chase and gunfire exchange between the two groups, leaving at least 50 people injured including several with bullet wounds.

Burhan Uddin Muzaqquir, correspondent of local daily Barta Bazaar, also sustained a bullet wound while covering the report on the spot.

Meanwhile, Basurhat Municipality Mayor Quader Mirza, also brother of Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, appeared in a Facebook Live video and alleged that his followers were being attacked in Chaprashirhaat.

If any of them dies, the responsibility will have to be taken by Minister Obaidul Quader, lawmakers Enamul Karim Chowdhury and Nizam Hazari, Companiganj Upazila Parishad Chairman Shahab Uddin, and former upazila chairman Badal, Quader Mirza said.