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At least 10 people were reportedly injured in a clash between two rival factions of the BNP in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi on Wednesday night, over establishing supremacy in the area and a dispute centring a tender on a local pond.
During the clash, a local BNP office was vandalised and set on fire, along with three motorcycles, according to police and local sources on Thursday.
Puthia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kabir Hossain said tensions had been brewing since the afternoon over the tender issue. “By evening, both groups brought out processions and demonstrations wielding locally made weapons, which soon escalated into a violent clash,” the OC said.
He added that the situation is now under control, with law enforcement agencies patrolling the area to prevent further unrest.
Locals said police initially failed to bring the situation under control, prompting the army to intervene and restore order and at least 10 people were injured in the clash.
Azizul Haque, a businessman at Puthia Bazar, said, “The clash went on for over two hours. The situation calmed down only after the army arrived. Fire service officials later brought the fire at the BNP office under control.”
OC Kabir Hossain said that additional police and army personnel remain deployed at the scene and legal proceedings are underway.