Our Correspondent :
Two people have died in a reported clash between two local factions of the Awami League in Barishal’s Mehendiganj upazila.
The clash took place in Saldi village of Uttar Ulania union at around 11am on Thursday during a wedding at UP Member Rab Dhali’s house. The deceased are Siddikur Rahman, 30, a day labourer by profession, and Rab Dhali’s brother Abdus Sattar Dhali. 57, an Awami League activist.
Police have so far detained three people in this connection.
According to police and local sources, there had been a long-running dispute between Dhulkhola Awami League President Kalam Bepari and Uttar Ulania Jubo League Convener Jamal Rari over the postponed elections in Uttar Ulania union.
Police said that on receiving information that Jamal Rari was at the wedding of Rab Dhali’s granddaughter, a group of attackers, led by Kalam Bepari and his brother Sumon Bepari, stormed the ceremony, killing two people and injuring several others.
The injured have been admitted to different hospitals. Relatives of the deceased and villagers said most of the attackers were not locals but had been hired from outside the area.
Mehendiganj police station OC Abul Kalam said it had been initially confirmed that disputes over the election led to the clash.
Additional forces were deployed to keep the situation under control and legal action would be taken in this regard, police said.
The Dhali family claimed that the attack was orchestrated by Kalam Bepari’s brothers. It may be recalled that a clash had ensued over a feud between some supporters of the candidates participating in the recently postponed union parishad polls in Mehendiganj upazila in April, leading to the death of two people.
Denying the allegations raised against him, Kamal Bepari said he had been hiding in Dhaka for a month as he was one of the accused in the case filed over the two deaths last month.
The attack on Thursday was staged by the Dhali family to frame him, he added.
