Applause at the mourning meeting. Two League groups clash, 20 injured
Kushtia representative
Clashes took place between two groups of the local Awami League over clapping hands and shouting slogans at a mourning meeting organized on the occasion of National Mourning Day in Kushtia. At least 20 people were reported injured. Twelve of the injured are being treated at Kushtia General Hospital.
The incident took place at Shankar Diya market of Gosmami Durgapur of Sadar Upazila of Kushtia on Sunday around 6 pm. The incident has created tension in the area and additional police have been deployed to control the situation.
According to the information provided by the police and locals, Awami League organizes mourning meetings in all the unions of Kushtia Sadar Upazila periodically during the month of mourning. In continuation of that, the mourning day was fixed at Gosmami Durgapur of Sadar Upazila on Sunday afternoon. Just in time, the mourning meeting started. Ataur Rahman Ata, chairman of Sadar Upazila Parishad and general secretary of city Awami League, was the chief guest at the meeting.
Before the start of the mourning meeting, the supporters of Gosmami Durgapur Union Awami League general secretary and former chairman Dabir Uddin occupied almost all the chairs in the venue. Shortly after the start of the meeting, Gosmami entered the venue with a condolence rally led by Laltu Rahman, the current chairman of Durgapur Union and joint secretary of Sadar Upazila Jubo League. At that time, the people who came with Laltu had various types of weapons including handaxes. When Laltu reached the venue, his supporters clapped their hands and shouted slogans. At that time, when the supporters of former chairman Dabir Uddin were prohibited from clapping and shouting slogans, the two sides clashed. They attacked each other with sticks and native weapons.
Eyewitnesses said that in front of the police and the chief guest, the leaders and workers of both sides attacked and clashed. Although the invited Awami League leaders repeatedly tried to stop it, the leaders and workers continued to attack each other. Chairs were vandalized. During the clash, the mourners fled in fear. At least 20 people from both sides were injured in the clash which lasted for more than 20 minutes. Among the injured, Union Awami League joint general secretary Habibur Rahman Jhentu was sent to Rajshahi Medical Hospital in critical condition.
Apart from this, 8 people of Dabir Uddin group including Dabul Rahman, Mohsin and Akhis and 12 people of Laltu group including Montu, Khalil, Jamal, Altab, Khalek, Delwar, Shaheen were injured in the clash. Among them, the condition of Khaleek of Laltu Group is also critical.
Dabul Rahman, a supporter of Dabir Uddin said, "During the mourning meeting, Laltu Rahman came to the meeting place with people. At that time they were clapping their hands and shouting slogans. Clapping hands is prohibited in mourning meetings, so they attacked us because they were not allowed to clap their hands.'
A supporter of Laltu Rahman named Montu complained and said, "They had already planned to fight." As soon as we reached the mourning meeting in the afternoon, Dabir's people attacked.
In this regard, Dabir Uddin, the general secretary of the Union Awami League, said, "After the guests arrived in the afternoon, the mourning meeting began. I cook food for two thousand people. The current chairman Laltur Rahman brought a procession with hundreds of people. Many of them had indigenous weapons. We did not understand beforehand. They came and attacked my supporters and ordinary leaders and workers. He was cut with an ax and injured.
The current chairman and Jubo League leader Laltu Rahman denied the attack. He claimed, "My people have been attacked by Dabir's people." 5 to 6 people were injured. Three of my brothers' heads were blown off. Attacked in front of the leaders. We just tried to prevent it.'
When asked about the clash, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Islami University Police Station An Noor Zayed said that the two sides clashed over a trivial incident. The situation is now under police control. Despite tension in the area, additional police have been deployed to deal with any situation. No one has filed a written complaint in this matter yet. If given, action will be taken.
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