At least 25 people were injured, three of them critically, in a violent clash between two rival factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur on Friday.According to local sources, the violence erupted following longstanding tensions and alleged harassment by a faction favored by a top district BNP leader against several senior and veteran leaders of the party.The clash broke out around 5:00 p.m. near the Wapda intersection in Boalmari town during programs marking the Revolution and Solidarity Day. During the incident, a section of the upazila BNP office was vandalized and set on fire, while at least 15 motorcycles were smashed and torched. Additionally, 10 to 12 nearby shops were also vandalized.
After nearly an hour of chaos, army and police personnel arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. The area remained tense as of filing this report.
Among the injured were Upazila Jubo Dal convener Minajur Rahman Lipon, Liaquat Molla, Rafiqul Islam, Titu, Jabbar, Imdadul Haque, Lablur, and several others. Most of them were admitted to Boalmari Upazila Health Complex for treatment.
Political Rivalry Behind the Violence
Local and party sources said that the clash was an outcome of a long-running power struggle between former lawmaker and central Krishak Dal vice-president Khandaker Nasirul Islam and Upazila BNP vice-president and former joint secretary Shamsuddin Mia Jhunu. Tensions reportedly escalated further in recent weeks over party nominations and the formation of the upazila committee.
To mark the Revolution and Solidarity Day, both factions organized separate rallies and gatherings. Jhunu’s group held their program in front of the upazila BNP office located at the Harun Shopping Complex near Wapda Mor, while Nasirul Islam’s supporters arranged a similar event at Chourasta intersection.
Tensions flared when hundreds of activists from both sides gathered in Boalmari bazar in the afternoon. Shortly afterward, chase and counter-chase ensued, leading to violent clashes. Around 4:30 p.m., supporters of Nasirul Islam allegedly attacked Jhunu’s office wielding sticks, bricks, and homemade weapons, vandalized the premises, and set it ablaze. They also set fire to several nearby shops and motorcycles, continuing the rampage for nearly an hour.