Kishoreganj BNP factions brawl over seating plan at election rally

A clash has broken out between two factions of the BNP over seating arrangements at an election rally in Kishoreganj.

Police and local BNP leaders said the incident took place on Friday evening in Austagram Upazila.

According to local residents, a BNP election rally for candidate Fazlur Rahman was under way in the afternoon.

Towards the end of the rally, a procession led by Mahbub Alam Kismat, general secretary of the Kastul Union Jubo Dal, arrived at the venue.

An argument broke out over sitting on chairs with supporters of Sadeq Mia, president of BNP's Ward No. 2 unit. The dispute later escalated into a brawl.

Mahbub alleged that after arriving at the rally with the procession, Sadeq and his supporters attacked them, leaving at least 20 people, including himself, injured.

Denying the allegation, Sadeq said he and eight to 10 of his supporters were injured in an attack carried out by Mahbub and his followers.

Austagram Police chief Shoaib Khan said the situation is currently under control.

He added that the exact number of casualties cannot be confirmed at this stage, and that legal action will be taken following an investigation if any complaints are filed.     �"bdnews24