At least 23 individuals, including three police officers, sustained injuries during a clash between two factions of BNP in Faridpur’s Boalmari upazila today at around 4:00 pm in commemoration of November 7 Revolution and Solidarity Day. The confrontation occurred near Wapda intersection, where supporters of Khondakar Nasirul Islam, vice president of Krishak Dal, and Shamsuddin Mia, former joint secretary of Boalmari BNP, engaged in a violent altercation. Both factions are vying for the party’s nomination for Faridpur-1, although the nomination process has been delayed.
According to witnesses, Shamsuddin’s supporters congregated at Wapda Mor around 3:00 pm, while Nasirul’s group gathered near Kazi Sirajul Islam Mohila College Mor. Each faction was reportedly armed with bamboo sticks. At 4:00 pm, the groups proceeded with a march and confronted each other in front of Boalmari municipality, leading to the exchange of brickbats and the outbreak of a clash. Subsequently, Shamsuddin’s supporters retreated to Harun Shopping Complex due to being outnumbered.
Efforts by officials, including Boalmari UNO Tanvir Hasan Chowdhury, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Shibbir Ahmed, and Boalmari Police Station OC Mahmudul Hasan, to mediate were met with resistance, with allegations of an attack by Nasirul’s supporters. Nasirul’s group proceeded to set fire to around ten motorbikes and vandalize Shamsuddin’s office located on the ground floor of the complex, causing extensive damage to nearby shops.
The police sought cover during the altercation, lasting from 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm, with even a fire engine dispatched to extinguish the flames coming under attack. Both factions placed blame on each other for the violence.
Shamsuddin claimed that Awami League activists supported Nasirul’s group in assaulting his supporters and office, resulting in 15 injuries and damage to portraits of Khaleda Zia. On the other hand, Nasirul stated that he was not present during the incident in Boalmari as he was in Madhukhali, and his supporters were attacked, with one person sustaining injuries from a machete. He alleged that bystanders retaliated following brick-throwing from the shopping complex.
Around 5:30 pm, army personnel arrived at the scene and managed to restore order. The fire service later returned to extinguish the fires, although tensions persisted between the two factions.
OC Mahmudul Hasan confirmed that three police officers were among the injured and assured that the situation had been brought under control.