Bangladesh: Multiple Injuries and Vehicle Fires in BNP-Jamaat Clash
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On April 1 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a violent clash between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami left numerous injured and resulted in vehicles being torched. The altercation was rooted in a dispute over alleged corruption involving the distribution of Vulnerable Group Development cards.
Key Takeaways
- Violent clash between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
- Numerous injuries reported.
- Vehicles and shops were vandalized.
- Dispute over VGD cards sparked violence.
- Both parties accuse each other of instigation.
Dhaka, April 1 (NationPress) A number of individuals sustained injuries, and vehicles were set ablaze during a fierce confrontation between two prominent political factions in Bangladesh -- Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami.
Four shops were damaged, five motorcycles and a van were ignited, and numerous individuals were hurt amidst the turmoil.
The altercation broke out in the Bausa union of Rajshahi's Bagha upazila, stemming from a previously reported disagreement over alleged corruption in the distribution of Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) cards, according to local media.
Eyewitnesses reported that the unrest began when activists from BNP's student faction, Chhatra Dal, purportedly assaulted members of Jamaat's student organization, Islami Chhatra Shibir.
In retaliation, Shibir activists later attacked BNP members. Following these events, BNP supporters reportedly vandalized shops and set fire to vehicles associated with Jamaat sympathizers, as reported by The Daily Star.
Both BNP and Jamaat accused each other of instigating the violence. After a police-mediated agreement between the two factions recently, Jamaat alleged that BNP supporters targeted their members, including an attempted murder of a student leader on March 30.
Moreover, Jamaat reported assaults on their activists' residences and businesses, resulting in injuries and economic losses. They are demanding justice and urging authorities to take action against the perpetrators.
In contrast, BNP leader Rejaul, dismissing Jamaat's claims, stated that their Chhatra Dal leader Rajib Ahmed was enjoying tea after iftar when a group of Shibir activists launched an unprovoked attack.
"Rajib is currently receiving treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in critical condition. No legal actions have been initiated yet. We will pursue this once Rajib recovers," he mentioned.
Bagha Police Station Officer-in-Charge AFM Asaduzzaman indicated that Jamaat has lodged a case concerning the incidents. As of now, no arrests have been made. The police are investigating the situation to ensure accountability.
This skirmish between the two factions follows an earlier dispute regarding alleged misuse of VGD cards in the Basua union of Bagha upazila.
It is claimed that earlier this month, when Jamaat-e-Islami organized a human chain to protest against corruption, irregularities, and the misuse of VGD cards, BNP members, led by the Bausa union BNP president, arrived with a procession and engaged in a verbal altercation with Jamaat activists.
The situation intensified into a clash between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists in the area, resulting in five injuries on both sides, local media reported.
The much-touted unity among various political groups in Bangladesh, prominently displayed during the ousting of the democratically elected Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, appears to be gradually diminishing. The rift between the former allies, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, seems to be widening, leading to a standoff.
int/scor/sd/
