Nasirnagar, (Brahmanbaria) Correspondent:
Two people, including a mosque imam, were killed and at least a hundred others injured in clashes between supporters of the newly elected parliament and a defeated independent candidate in Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district.
Police and locals said that clashes began in different areas of the remote Goalnagar union surrounded by rivers on Tuesday (March 24) and were ongoing till the time of writing this report.
The deceased Habibullah (40) was the imam of a mosque in the Schoolpara area of Goalnagar village and was a supporter of independent candidate Kamruzzaman Mamun. The deceased Akhter Mia was a supporter of BNP leader Rahim Talukder.
Inspector Abul Kalam Azad, in-charge of the Chatalpar investigation center in Nasirnagar, said, “We have received reports that two people were killed in the clashes. Clashes are still going on in the area.”
According to locals, the violence began with a dispute surrounding the Goalnagar High School polling station on election day (February 12). On that day, the army detained BNP supporter Ziaur Rahman on charges of irregularities and later sentenced him to 10 days in prison by a mobile court.
The dispute between the two sides intensified after suspicions that Shishu Mia, a supporter of independent candidate Kamruzzaman Mamun, was involved in Ziaur Rahman’s detention.
Since then, there have been multiple clashes, attacks and counter-attacks. The situation has become even more heated after the attack on the houses of a large group last week. Although the matter was temporarily resolved with the mediation of the local MP, locals said that preparations for revenge were underway.
Locals allege that
Tuesday’s clash was pre-planned. After fixing the day and date, both sides gathered people from different areas and engaged in a clash with indigenous weapons including teta, javelins, bows and arrows.
The clash was not limited to Goalnagar village; it spread to the entire union. People from both sides took part in the clash in vast croplands.
It is known locally that BNP leader Rahim Talukder led the newly elected MP. On the other hand, Kashem Mia led the independent candidate.
In addition to Goalnagar, people from Rampur, Machma, Tekanagar and Vitadubi villages participated on behalf of Rahim Talukder. On the other hand, people from various areas including Schoolpara, Shimerkandi, Laluartek, Sonatala, Jhamarbali and Kadamtali on behalf of Kashem Mia got involved in the clash.
A group of locals also said that new tension has been created in the area since the local MP’s visit to Goalnagar on Monday (March 23).
The injured are being treated at various local and regional facilities, including the Nasirnagar Upazila Health Complex.
Shafiqul Islam, resident medical officer of the Upazila Health Complex, said, “Two people have come to the hospital for treatment. Their condition is critical, so they have been referred to Dhaka for better treatment.”
Brahmanbaria Superintendent of Police Shah Md. Abdur Rouf said, “The two sides clashed over a previous dispute. The police have reached the spot and are trying to bring the situation under control.”
Earlier, on March 17, at least 25 people were injured in a clash between the two sides over the same dispute. A chase and counter-chase and brickbat pelting took place that afternoon. Later, the police brought the situation under control and additional police were deployed in the area.