Jamaat-BNP activists clash over front-row seating in Patuakhali

Leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP clashed over front-row seating during an Independence Day parade in Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali on Thursday.
The incident occurred around 10:00 am at the municipal public ground, where the programme was organised by the upazila administration. The two sides engaged in a clash in front of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Assistant Commissioner (Land) and police officials, who later brought the situation under control.
According to eyewitnesses, Jamaat leaders, including upazila ameer Maulana Md. Ishaq Mia and secretary Md. Khalidur Rahman, took seats on one side of the reserved front row before the event began. Later, former BNP MP and freedom fighter Shahidul Alam Talukder entered the venue with 40-50 party members and took seats on the other side along with his wife Salma Alam.
Tension escalated as many BNP and its associate organisation members could not find seats due to limited chairs. At one point, upazila Chhatra Dal president Abdullah Al Fahad asked Mujahidul Islam, a former Chhatra Shibir leader and representative of a local MP, to vacate a chair, triggering an argument that soon turned into a scuffle.
Police Inspector Atikul Islam and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Sohag Milu intervened, temporarily calming the situation.