Staff Reporter :
At least nine Awami League activists have been injured in a factional clash in Dhaka.
The incident occurred in the capital’s Kamrangirchar around 1pm on Monday.
Two groups led by Awami League leaders Shahidul Islam, local unit Awami League president, and Jamal Dewan, general secretary of Ward No 56 Awami League, clashed over establishing supremacy and land acquisition in the area.
The injured have been identified as, Shahidul Islam, Abdus Salam, Mashiur, Jamal Dewan, Joynal Dewan, Md Akash Dewan, Niloy, Md Liton, Kamal Hasan, and Imarat Hossain.
All of the injured are undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Jamal Dewan said: “I have been the owner of the disputed piece of land for the past seven years. And there is even a case ongoing in court regarding this issue. But today’s incident was not about that.
“A TV channel was interviewing local Mohsin Miah’s son when suddenly Shahidul and his men, and Md Hossain, Councillor of Ward 56, attacked us. Seven to eight of us were injured in the attack.”
Denying Jamal’s claims, Mashiur said: “We were passing through the road when Jamal Dewan and his followers attacked us.”
Contacted, Md Hossain, Councillor of Ward 56, said: “This whole thing happened because of a four katha piece of land owned by a woman named Banu Bibi. Jamal Dewan and his men had grabbed this piece of land. Our local MPs tried to resolve the matter but Jamal did not comply. They concluded that it is Banu Bibi who is the rightful owner of the land.
“Later, I myself, following the instructions of Dhaka 2 constituency MP Qamrul Islam, tried to resolve the issue. Jamal tried to sell this land to someone and even took Tk2.20 crore. He and his followers went to the area and tried to hand over the land to the buyer. When the locals protested and resisted Jamal, a clash broke out and people got injured.
Asked about the reports of Shahidul attacking Jamal and his men on his command, the councillor said: “Shahidul and Mashiur are my ward’s activists. They went there to protest the grabbing. It was Jamal Dewan and his people who attacked and injured them, not the other way around.”
