Noakhali BNP-Jamaat Clash Leaves at Least 10 Injured

At least 10 leaders and activists were injured in clashes between supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami in Sirajpur Union of Companiganj upazila in Noakhali on Friday night. The confrontation also led to the vandalism of a local BNP office, according to local residents and police.

The clashes reportedly took place intermittently from the evening until late at night in the Dinar Dokan area of Ward No. 6 in the union. Tensions escalated several times, with supporters of the two political groups becoming involved in separate confrontations.

Those reportedly injured include Jubo Dal leader Anwar Hossain, 32, Ripon Mia, 27, Faruk, 27, and Osman, 24, president of the Islami Chhatra Shibir unit in Ward No. 8 of Sirajpur. Rifat, 25, the unit’s secretary, was also among those injured. Local sources said at least 10 people from both sides sustained injuries during the clashes.

According to local residents and police sources, the incident was rooted in an earlier dispute between supporters of the two groups. The situation reportedly intensified after Mujahid, son of former chairman candidate and Sirajpur Union Jamaat chief Abul Hashem, allegedly took a Chhatra Dal activist to the field of Sirajpur PL Academy and assaulted him.

Tensions rose further after members of Chhatra Dal allegedly assaulted a Shibir activist, according to the same sources. Following the incident, supporters of Jamaat and Shibir allegedly attacked and vandalised the local BNP office at around 11pm.

The latest confrontation highlights the potential for longstanding local disputes to escalate into wider political tensions. In areas where rival political groups maintain competing networks of supporters, incidents involving individual activists can sometimes trigger retaliatory actions and confrontations between larger groups.

Police were informed after the clashes broke out and officers went to the area to bring the situation under control. The intervention helped prevent the confrontation from escalating further, police said.

Mohammad Nurul Hakim, officer-in-charge of Companiganj Police Station, said police reached the scene after receiving information about the clashes and brought the situation under control.

He said no formal complaint had been filed with the police as of Friday night. If a complaint is submitted, the authorities will take legal action in accordance with the law, he added.

The police have not yet confirmed whether any arrests have been made in connection with the clashes or the alleged vandalism. The exact extent of damage to the BNP office was also not immediately known.

Local authorities are expected to monitor the situation closely to prevent further violence and maintain peace in the area. Any formal investigation will depend on complaints and evidence collected by the police, officials said.