At least 20 people were injured in factional clashes among followers of ruling party and independent candidates during an election campaign programme in Central Road in the capital and port city Chattogram on Saturday.
At least 15 people were injured in factional clashes among followers of Dhaka-10 Awami League (AL) candidate Ferdous Ahmed during an election campaign programme in Central Road area of the capital on Saturday afternoon.
Party sources said an argument started between the leaders and activists of two AL groups --Dhaka city unit ALs Ward-18 unit Labour Affairs Secretary Mosharaf Hossain Raja and Central Road Unit AL President Imam Hossain Manzil-- about standing in front of the campaign march. At one stage it turned into a clash between the groups that left 15 people injured.
Inspector Bacchu Mia, In-charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police outpost said the injured took treatment in the hospital.
Md Kamal, Sub-Inspector of New Market Police Station confirmed the matter. The official said no action was taken as no one complained about it.
Our Chattogram Staff Correspondent adds at least five supporters of independent candidate Shamsul Haque Chowdhury for Chattogram-12 constituency were injured in an attack during electioneering in the districts Patiya upazila on Saturday.
Shamsuls younger brother Fazlul Haque Chowdhury was among the injured, said Mujibul Haque Nabab, another brother of Shamsul. The injured were admitted to different hospitals in Patiya and Chattogram city, he said.
Shamsul, also the whip of the parliament, was elected lawmaker from Chattogram-12 (Patiya) constituency for three consecutive terms between 2008 and 2018 as a candidate of AL.
However, he decided to contest the upcoming election as an independent candidate after failing to get party nomination.
Describing the incident Nabab said, "When my brother Shamsul went to Shantir Hat area around 11:45am, some 50 miscreants attacked us with sticks and iron rods." Nabab blamed the activists of AL candidate Motaherul Islam Chowdhury for the attack.
"We have informed the matter to police over phone and will file a case soon," he said.
AKM Shamsuzzaman Chowdhury, President of Patiya upazila unit AL and Chairman of the election management committee of Motaherul, said he did not know about the incident.
"None of our activists were involved in the incident," he said. Mohammad Solaiman, Inspector (investigation) of Patiya Police Station, said on information, a police team went to the spot but they did not find anyone there. "We are looking into the incident," he added.
