10 injured in clashes between 2 BNP factions in N'ganj

At least 10 individuals were injured in a clash between two factions of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at Sonargaon upazila in Narayanganj during a Victory Day tribute at Shaheed Minar on Monday.

The clash occurred around 11:30 AM at Sonargaon Upazila Parishad premises between supporters of former state minister Professor Md. Rezaul Karim and Sonargaon Upazila BNP president Azharul Islam Mannan. 

Among the injured was Anwar Hossain, joint secretary of the BNP's central volunteer wing. The wounded individuals were taken to Sonargaon Upazila Health Complex for treatment.  

According to local sources, political rivalry between the two groups has been simmering for a long time. To avoid confrontation, the upazila administration scheduled different times for their floral tributes�10:00 AM for Mannan's group and 11:00 AM for Rezaul Karim's group. However, some of Mannan's supporters remained at the venue after their scheduled time, leading to a heated exchange when Karim's group arrived.  

Tensions escalated when Mannan's supporter Mobarak Hossain allegedly assaulted Nur-e-Yasin Nobel, joint convener of the Sonargaon upazila Jubo Dal. This triggered a violent altercation, with both sides hurling stones and engaging in physical clashes.  

Nur-e-Yasin Nobel accused Mannan's group of instigating the violence, stating, "We came peacefully to pay our respects. Despite allocated timings, they remained at the venue, leading to provocations and an attack on us."  

Khondokar Abu Zafar, former president of the Sonargaon Upazila BNP, criticized the incident, calling it a "shameful act" on a national day and vowed to report Mannan's group to party headquarters.  

Meanwhile, Azharul Islam Mannan defended his group, saying, "Rezaul Karim's supporters provoked us with inflammatory remarks and initiated the violence."  

Sonargaon Police Station officer-in-charge Mohammad Abdul Bari confirmed the incident, saying, "The situation was brought under control, but a few people sustained minor injuries from stone-throwing. We have not received any formal complaints yet."  

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farzana Rahman downplayed the event, describing it as an isolated incident, adding that neither group has filed a formal complaint.