At least 54 people were injured, 10 shops in a market set on fire, and 5 motorcycles burnt in a clash between two factions of the BNP in Brahmanbaria's Bancharampur upazila.

The incident took place in front of Musa Market in Pratapganj Bazar of Bancharampur around 12:30pm on Monday.

The personal office of upazila BNP member secretary and former VP AK Musa, who led one of the parties in the clash, was also burnt.

Upazila BNP leaders, eyewitnesses, and police as well as fire service sources confirmed these incidents to The Daily Star.

BNP leaders said that the bi-annual conference of Bancharampur upazila BNP is scheduled to be held on November 20. A heated situation was prevailing between supporters of former MP and BNP executive committee member MA Khalek, and Central Krishak Dal joint general secretary Mehedi Hasan Polash surrounding this conference.

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BNP activists and supporters of MA Khalek took out a protest march from the Palli Biddyut intersection (Matur Bari Mor) of Bancharampur to demand the postponement of the conference. Thousands of people took part in the procession with sticks, machetes and hammers.

Eyewitnesses said that when the procession crossed the local Musa Market area, activists and supporters of Mehedi Hasan Polash started throwing brick chips and stones from the rooftops of various buildings in the vicinity. Later, they attacked the marchers with local weapons.

The situation then escalated into an hour-long clash.

Of the injured, 48 were sent to Bancharampur Upazila Health Complex.

Bancharampur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Ranjan Barman said that 54 people have received treatment so far. Of them, six seriously injured patients have been referred to Dhaka.

The six patients sent to Dhaka are Jalal Uddin Badal, former joint general secretary of upazila BNP, Musa Haider, joint convener of upazila Jubo Dal, BNP activists Arun Mia, Ful Mia, Danu Mia and Krishnapad Das.Meanwhile, after the incident, the local fire service, police and armybrought the situation under control.

Abdul Quader, Leader of Bancharampur Upazila Fire Service, said that two units of the fire brigade brought the fire under control. The extent of the damage in the fire is yet to be ascertained.

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Bancharampur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Morshed Alam said that the clash between the leaders and activists of the two parties took place over the upazila BNP council. On receiving the information, law enforcement went to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Meanwhile, former MP MA Khalek, who led the march demanding the postponement of the conference, said, "As soon as we came in front of Musa Market with a peaceful march, bricks were thrown at our leaders and activists without any provocation. We peacefully marched to demand the abolition of the council. We were attacked on the orders of Mehedi Hasan Polash, the leader of Krishak Dal."

When contacted, Mehedi Hasan Polash said, "I was not in Bancharampur, I am staying in Dhaka now."

"Besides, we had no program today. We are in favor of the BNP conference to be held next Wednesday. Our leaders are working to make the conference a success. They are going door to door of voters. On the other hand, MA Khalek's own people pelted bricks as per the pre-planned intention to create an environment for the imposition of Section 144 to thwart the conference announced by the BNP central committee. They later attacked, vandalised and set fire in the area," he added.