Staff Reporter :
At least 10 persons were injured in a bloody clash between the two factions of the ruling Awami League at Panchasar union under Munshiganj Sadar upazila on Tuesday.
Earlier fire of automatic guns and series blasts of cocktails rocked entire Munshiganj town when both sides were locked in clashes over establishing supremacy in the area, local sources said.
The chase and counter-chase between the two groups continued from 12 pm to 3 pm where supporters of two ‘chairman’ candidates-one is ruling party nominated and another is rebel — equipped with lethal weapons, bamboo sticks and iron rods attacked each other turning the area into a battle field.
Police sources said the clash was initiated centering campaign of upcoming third phase election of the Union Parishad. Of the injured, seven were leaders and activists of Chhatra League local unit.
The bullet injured victims were identified as general secretary of BCL local unit Foyez Ahmed Pavel, president of Tarun League district unit Mridul Dewan, MP Mrinal Kanti Das’s nephew Adar Das, Palash, Riyad, Badal and Dulal, police said.
Local sources told The New Nation that one Abdus Sattar got nomination of Awami League as ‘chairman’ candidate while cotton businessman Golam Mustafa has filed nomination paper as party’s rebel candidate.
In this situation, a group of hoodlums led by BCL leader Pavel went to King Fisher Knitting factory at Mukhtarpur in the noon which is owned by AL rebel candidate Golam Mustafa.
“They threatened me pointing pistol. They asked me to step aside from election, or face dire consequence. At one stage, they shot at me. Luckily I escaped death. But local people caught them and gave a good beating. Later, we informed the local police station,” Golam Mustafa claimed.
But refuting the claim, Awami League nominated ‘chairman’ candidate Abdus Sattar said, “The supporters of Golam Mustafa attacked our men when they went to Mukhtarpur area for electoral campaign. They forcibly took away four persons of our campaign team to the knitting factory and beat them mercilessly. Later, the police rescued them.”
Eye witnesses said that a group of ruling party men, including Mridul Dewan, Foyez Ahmed Pavel and others, were injured during the clash with factory workers of Golam Mustafa. Police rescued them and sent to Munshiganj General Hospital.
Tarun League president Mridul Dewan was shifted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital when his condition was deteriorated.
Following the clash, the supporters of Abdus Sattar put blockade on the Tongibari-Shipahipara road and damaged several vehicles. Later, police and RAB charged baton indiscriminately to disperse the mob. Several business establishments and shops were also ransacked at that time and vehicular movement was also stopped for several hours.
When contacted, Officer-in Charge of Munshiganj Police Station Md Yunus Ali told The New Nation last night, “Although the official electoral campaign has not yet started, the workers of both ‘chairman’ candidates have started greeting-exchange to get support of the voters. They were locked in clashes when Sattar group went to Mukhtarpur in the morning.”
“We’ve rescued five persons from the knitting factory and also recovered two loaded pistols from the spot. But none was arrested in this connection,” the OC said.
Police also did not file any case against anyone. Huge contingent of law enforcers were deployed in the area to prevent any untoward situation.
