A violent clash between supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing has left at least 15 people injured and caused extensive damage to shops in Gaibandha’s Palashbari upazila, amid rising tensions over local political dominance.
The incident took place around 10pm on Monday in the Junodah Bazar area under Barisal union. According to local accounts, the confrontation escalated rapidly from earlier altercations linked to long-standing rivalries between the two political camps. Within a short span of time, the busy market area turned into a scene of chaos as groups from both sides gathered and engaged in violent confrontations.
Eyewitnesses said the situation initially began after followers of Palashbari Upazila BNP president Abdus Samad Mondal, also known locally as “Maro Samad”, allegedly assaulted two leaders of the local Islami Chhatra Shibir. The incident triggered immediate retaliation and further mobilisation of activists from both sides, gradually intensifying into widespread clashes.
By nightfall, the confrontation had turned into a full-scale exchange of attacks, forcing the suspension of traffic movement on both sides of the Dhaka–Rangpur highway for nearly an hour. Shops in Junodah Bazar were vandalised during the unrest, with at least 10 business establishments reportedly looted or damaged. Traders later expressed concern over significant financial losses and began compiling lists of damages, demanding compensation and protection.
Among the injured are several local political figures, including Abdus Samad Mondal himself, district Jubo Dal member Millat Sarkar Milan, and Palashbari municipality volunteer wing convener Shamim Reza. They were initially treated at local facilities before being transferred to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura for advanced care due to the severity of their injuries.
BNP leaders alleged that members of Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated organisations were directly involved in the attack, describing it as a targeted act of political violence. However, the opposing side’s response was not detailed in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
In response to the violence, senior BNP leaders from Gaibandha district visited the injured at the hospital late at night. They expressed concern over the deteriorating political situation and called for accountability, urging authorities to identify those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice. Party representatives also warned that continued political violence could further destabilise local communities and undermine democratic practices.
Palashbari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sarwari Alam confirmed that police reached the scene promptly and managed to bring the situation under control. He added that no formal written complaint had been filed at the time of reporting, but assured that legal action would follow once complaints are received and investigations are completed.
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