At least 23 individuals, including three police officers, sustained injuries in a clash between supporters of two BNP aspirants seeking nominations in Faridpur’s Boalmari upazila on Wednesday. In a separate incident on Thursday night, 15 people were injured during a clash between BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad supporters over nominations in Patuakhali’s Galachipa upazila.
The violence in Faridpur erupted near Wapda intersection at around 4:00 pm during an event commemorating the November 7 Revolution and Solidarity Day. Khondakar Nasirul Islam, the vice president of Krishak Dal, and Shamsuddin Mia, a former joint secretary of Boalmari BNP, are competing for the party’s nomination for Faridpur-1 constituency, for which the BNP has not yet announced a candidate.
According to witnesses, supporters of Shamsuddin and Nasirul, armed with sticks, gathered separately at Wapda Mor and near Kazi Sirajul Islam Mohila College Mor around 3:00 pm. Subsequently, they clashed near the Boalmari municipality office, throwing bricks at each other around 4:00 pm.
Shamsuddin’s supporters retreated to Harun Shopping Complex after being outnumbered. Allegedly, Nasirul’s followers set fire to around ten motorcycles, vandalized Shamsuddin’s office on the ground floor of the complex, and damaged nearby shops.
Despite efforts by senior upazila officials to intervene, the violence persisted until approximately 5:30 pm, when the army arrived and restored order. Both factions later accused each other of instigating the conflict.
Shamsuddin claimed that Awami League activists supported Nasirul’s group in attacking his supporters and office, resulting in 15 injuries and damage to Khaleda Zia’s portraits. In contrast, Nasirul asserted his absence during the incident and stated that his supporters were attacked first, leading to retaliatory actions.
Mahmudul Hasan, the Officer-in-Charge of Boalmari Police Station, mentioned that three police personnel were injured in the clashes but assured that the situation is now under control. In Patuakhali, violence erupted around 9:00 pm on Thursday over the nomination for the next national election, reportedly between BNP’s Hasan Mamun and Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur, known as “VP Nur.”
Local sources reported clashes between supporters of both parties at Dakshin Kupalbera intersection following separate events in Kupalbera Bazar. The injured individuals have been hospitalized at Galachipa Upazila Health Complex.
Ilias, a local Jubo Dal leader, alleged an unprovoked attack by Gono Odhikar Parishad members, while Aminul Islam, the vice president of Dhaka North Jubo Odhikar Parishad and Nur’s brother, accused BNP activists of initiating the violence. Md Ashadur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Galachipa Police Station, confirmed that police were dispatched promptly after the incident.