50 injured in AL-BNP clash in Bagerhat

BAGERHAT, Nov 27 (UNB): At least 50 people including Chitalmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Officer-in-Charge (OC) were injured in a clash between Awami League (AL) and BNP activists over joining the BNP's road march towards Khulna at Chitalmari Uapzila headquarters Sunday morning. Police said when some local BNP leaders and activists were going to Shat Gumbaj Union Parishad premises in Bagerhat Sadar Upazila to attend the roadside rally of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia some local AL activists obstructed them, triggering a clash at about 11.00am. A chase and counter-chase took place between them when they pelted brickbats towards each other, turning the whole area into a battle field. Chitalmari UNO M Sohel Hasan and OC Hasan Hafizur Rahman were among the injured. Upazila Palli Bidyut office, local AL office, BNP office and eight shops were vandalized during the two and a half hours clash. Police Super Khandaker Rafiqul Islam said the situation is under control now but tension has been prevailing in the area. Some of the injured were admitted to the upazila health complex. Additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further clash.