At least 15 individuals were injured in a violent clash between two rival factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders and activists over control of a sand loading and unloading point near Kanchpur Bridge in Narayanganj’s Siddhirganj upazila on Wednesday.
The confrontation occurred in two phases between about 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM on the western bank of the Shitalakshya River in Shimrail area.
According to locals, supporters of Narayanganj district BNP convener Prof Mamun Mahmud went to the sand ghat to take control after reportedly securing a sub-lease.
However, they were allegedly obstructed by leaders and activists of Swechchhasebak Dal, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal, led by Siddhirganj police station Swechchhasebak Dal president Ripon Sarkar.
The confrontation quickly escalated into a clash involving more than 300 people from both sides, who reportedly used locally made arms. Among those injured were Zahir, Nur Hossain, Nazrul and Zia.
Being informed, law enforcement agencies, including police, RAB-11 and army personnel, rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officials also recovered a large number of locally made arms from the area and held a man named Biplob, described as a close associate of Prof Mamun Mahmud.
It is said that the sand ghat on the Shitalakshya riverbank was previously leased to former Dhaka South City Corporation ward councillor Mahmudul Hasan Polin. After the lease expired in 2021, Polin filed a case with the High Court.
As the case remains pending, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has not issued a new lease for the ghat.
Following recent political changes, Polin reportedly left the area and the ghat came under the control of Kaisar Rifat, son of former Narayanganj BNP convener Gias Uddin. However, the group later withdrew from the ghat after the 13th national election.
BIWTA Joint Director Mostafizur Rahman said Polin remains the official leaseholder while the legal case over the lease is ongoing.
“Until the case is resolved, the ghat is being operated by Polin’s nominated representative who deposits government revenue through pay orders every month,” he said, adding that Rasel Mahmud was appointed as the representative and recently submitted a pay order.
Meanwhile, Ripon Sarkar alleged that Prof Mamun Mahmud attempted to seize control of the ghat through his brother Rasel Mahmud with the help of local criminal groups.
He claimed their activists were attacked with locally made arms when they tried to resist and said a written complaint had been filed with the police.
Attempts to reach Prof Mamun Mahmud and Rasel Mahmud for comment were unsuccessful as their mobile phones remained unanswered.
Siddhirganj Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Mohammad Abdul Barik said police received information about the clash and one group has already submitted a complaint.
“Legal action will be taken after an investigation,” added the OC.
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