Dhaka, Nov 6 (IANS) At least five activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) sustained injuries in a gun attack purportedly executed by a rival faction amid a struggle for local control in Raozan upazila of Chattogram district, according to reports from local media.

As per police and local sources, the incident transpired on Wednesday night in the Chowdhurypara region of Bagowan union in Raozan.

The injured individuals have been named as Abdullah Sumon, the general secretary of the upazila unit of Sramik Dal, along with activists Ismail, Khorshed, Rubel, and Sohel.

All five are currently receiving medical attention at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) and are reported to be in critical condition.

According to local witnesses, a group of unidentified attackers arrived on motorcycles and in a vehicle, then opened fire indiscriminately at the BNP activists.

Residents reported that police arrived at the scene approximately an hour and a half post-incident, escalating fear among the local populace.

The violence is believed to have originated from a conflict between two factions of the BNP vying for dominance.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Md Belayet Hossain from the Raozan–Rangunia Circle confirmed that police are now stationed in the area to avert any further disturbances, and an investigation has commenced.

Earlier on the same day, BNP’s Chattogram-8 candidate Ershad Ullah was also shot during a campaign event in the Bayezid area, which resulted in the death of one of his associates, Sarwar Babla.

Moreover, on October 25, local Jubo Dal leader Md Alamgir Alam was fatally shot in a similar attack in the same Raozan upazila.

On October 28, a gunfight between two factions of the BNP’s youth wing resulted in one death and 15 injuries in Chattogram, with the deceased identified as Md. Sajjad, a 22-year-old member of the BNP's student wing Chhatra Dal.

Reports indicate that in the last year alone, at least 17 individuals, including 12 BNP activists, four members of Chhatra and Jubo League, and one expatriate, have lost their lives in the upazila.

The BNP has seen an uptick in violence, with factional disputes resulting in multiple injuries.

Once associated with the interim government of Muhammad Yunus to undermine the Awami League government, Khaleda Zia's BNP emerged as the preeminent political party in Bangladesh following the downfall of Sheikh Hasina. However, internal divisions have led to violent confrontations, resulting in numerous casualties.