Leaders and activists of Patro League and Patro Dal, the marriage wings of two political parties, locked in a clash in front of a kazi office in the capital yesterday, leaving several unmarried.

The incident erupted after two Patro men went to the office and found they were tying the knot with the same person. While they philosophically have no problem with the concept of polygamy, their political affiliations made this a form of forbidden love.

This correspondent rushed to the spot and witnessed the aftermath. Two cars adorned with flowers -- one with a sign that read "Jobbar and Alfee" and another "Jibon and Alfee" -- were vandalised.

"This is a sad development, as I too was once unmarried. But law and order must be maintained. Disputes over marriage should only involve class divides and hometowns, not violence."

Witnesses said the two groups started ripping apart gifts and pelting them at one another.

"One guy hurled a brand-new microwave across the road," said Kuddus Howlader, a local.

"Seeing the violence, I rushed to the spot and snatched the microwave away to use at my momo shop. It's working great."

Due to the clash, several of the activists who were waiting to get married that day couldn't, leading to more displays of the anger and frustration of the bachelors.

Photo: Freepik.com

"We want to feel loved! We want to dance at holuds! We want to get married!" said Writer Mukherjee, a member of Patro League.

"I had planned to leave this life of politics after becoming one with my love. But now, it seems I'll forever remain one of the Patros," lamented Poet Chowdhury, who's in Patro Dal.

Police eventually managed to bring the situation under control by bringing in 50 matchmakers with suitcases full of biodata.

"This is a sad development, as I too was once unmarried. But law and order must be maintained. Disputes over marriage should only involve class divides and hometowns, not violence," said Officer-in-Charge Mainul Haq, a former Patro League leader.

Right after the incident, this correspondent came across Muhurto Ahmed, leader of Matro League. Asked about the incident, Muhurto said, "I don't know anything. I just got here."

In a notice issued yesterday night, Raatro Dal, another political wing, said it formed a three-member committee to conduct nighttime investigation into the source of this clash -- Alfee.

Contacted, Jobbar and Jibon said it hurts that Alfee played them, but what hurts more is Alfee intentionally picking two people of ideologies worlds apart to play.

Alfee, however, said, "I don't even know the two. They'd just message me on social media and get no replies. Once, I just texted them: 'Hello, I'd love it if you stopped messaging me.' I guess they were just selective in their reading."