LALMONIRHAT — At least 20 supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami were injured in a clash during election campaigning in Lalmonirhat’s Hatibandha upazila on Sunday afternoon, police said. The two parties have blamed each other for the incident.
The clash broke out on Jan. 25 in the Kasaitari area near Medical Mor in Ward 2 of Tongbhanga Union in Hatibandha upazila. Police arrived at the scene after being informed and brought the situation under control.
Local and party sources said BNP central executive committee member Hasan Rajib Pradhan is contesting the Lalmonirhat-1 (Patgram and Hatibandha) seat under the party’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol. Tension flared in the area on Sunday afternoon while supporters of two candidates were holding separate campaign events. The tension later turned into a clash, leaving at least 20 activists from both sides injured. Anwarul Islam Raju, vice president for industry and commerce of Jamaat-e-Islami’s central committee, is the party’s candidate in the same seat, contesting under the “scales” symbol.
Anwarul Islam Raju said he did not know the details of the cause of the clash or the number of injured. He asked journalists to gather information from the scene.
BNP candidate Hasan Rajib Pradhan did not answer his phone despite repeated attempts to reach him for comment on the clash.
District Police Superintendent Asaduzzaman Asad said a clash took place between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami supporters during election campaigning, and several people from both sides were injured. Police quickly went to the scene and brought the situation under control, he said. As the matter falls under the election code of conduct, necessary action will be taken in accordance with the law, he said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report