Over a Hundred Injured in Clash Between BNP and Jamaat in Pabna

A series of clashes erupted between activists of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in Ishwardi of Pabna. More than a hundred people, including Abu Taleb Mondal, the Jamaat-e-Islami nominated parliamentary candidate for Pabna-4 (Ishwardi-Atghoria), were injured.

The incident took place around 5pm on Thursday (27 November) at Jagir Mor in the remote village of Char Gargari under the upazila.

Locals said that in the afternoon, Abu Taleb Mondal, accompanied by a motorcade of around 150 motorcycles, was travelling from Rahimpur Bottala in Sahapur Union towards Char Gargari Alhaj Mor. When the procession reached Jagir Mor, clashes broke out between the two groups.

Moha. Saidul Islam, secretary of Ishwardi Upazila Jamaat-e-Islami, told the press that on Wednesday (26 November), Dr Iqbal Hossain, a Jamaat member (Rukon) from Char Gargari village, was assaulted by supporters of Habibur Rahman Habib, the BNP’s initially nominated candidate for Pabna-4, including Mokkel Mridha, the president of Sahapur Union Krishak Dal, and his men. In protest, Jamaat arranged a demonstration in Char Gargari on Thursday afternoon. On the way to the rally, supporters of Mokkel Mridha attacked them with sticks and local weapons at Jagir Mor.

He further said that more than a hundred Jamaat activists, including Abu Taleb Mondal, were injured. During the attack, the assailants vandalised the candidate’s vehicle and set fire to four motorcycles.

Ramzan Ali, general secretary of Sahapur Union BNP, claimed that their activists were attacked by members of the Jamaat motorcade. He alleged that Jamaat activists fired more than 40 rounds during the incident, leaving over fifty BNP activists injured.

Asaduzzaman, a firefighter from Rooppur Green City Modern Fire Service, told the press that when he arrived at the scene, the fire had already been brought under control, and several burnt motorcycles were visible.

Attempts to contact Ishwardi Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) A S M Abdur Nur were unsuccessful, as he did not receive multiple phone calls.

Khaborwala/TSN