At least 10 people were injured, including five with gunshot wounds, during a night-long clash between two rival factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Mollakandi Union, under Munshiganj Sadar Upazila. The violence, which involved gunfire, attacks and repeated crude bomb explosions, reportedly stemmed from disputes over local dominance ahead of the upcoming Union Parishad elections.
Crude bombs were also thrown at a police pickup vehicle as officers attempted to bring the situation under control.
The clashes began at around 11.30pm on Wednesday, 11 November, and continued intermittently until 7am on Thursday, 12 November. The violence spread across several villages in Mollakandi Union, including Noadha, Rajarchar, Kangshapura and Natun Amghata.
The confrontation took place between supporters of Awlad Molla, vice-president of the Mollakandi Union BNP, and those of Rahim Molla, a BNP activist living in France. Tensions between the two groups reportedly escalated over local influence and political positioning ahead of the forthcoming local government elections.
The five people who sustained gunshot injuries have been identified as Didar Dhali, 47, Borhan Sikdar, 49, Didar Sardar, 45, Rakib Sardar, 25, and Imran Hossain, 48.
They were rescued and taken to Munshiganj General Hospital, where they received initial treatment. Doctors subsequently referred them to Dhaka for more advanced medical care. The other five injured people received treatment locally.
The overnight violence caused concern across the affected villages, where repeated attacks and explosions disrupted the peace. The situation became particularly tense when crude bombs were thrown towards a police pickup dispatched to the area following reports of the clashes.
Efforts to obtain comments from the two BNP figures were unsuccessful. Several attempts were made to contact Awlad Molla by mobile phone, while messages and calls were sent to Rahim Molla through WhatsApp. Neither responded.
Confirming the incident, Taslim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Munshiganj Sadar Police Station, said the dispute between the two groups had originated from the upcoming Union Parishad elections.
According to the police official, officers rushed to the scene after receiving information about the violence. However, upon their arrival, several crude bombs were thrown at the police pickup by people involved in the confrontation.
He said police took immediate action and managed to bring the situation under control. The area is now calm, while surveillance has been strengthened to prevent further violence and maintain law and order.
The incident highlights the tensions that can emerge within local political organisations as competition for influence intensifies ahead of local government elections. In this case, the confrontation involved supporters of two figures from the same political party, leaving several people injured and raising concerns about public safety in the affected communities.
With police monitoring the situation, maintaining peace in Mollakandi will remain a priority as the area approaches the next Union Parishad election.
