Clash between two BNP factions in Sitakunda on founding anniversary, display of weapons

A clash broke out between followers of two BNP leaders in Sitakunda of Chattogram over a program marking the founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The incident involved chasing and counter chasing, cocktail explosions and clashes. A video showing people displaying locally made weapons in front of police has spread on social media.

Following the clash, agitated party activists barricaded the Dhaka Chattogram Highway. The nearly hour-long blockade caused extensive traffic congestion on the highway.

The clash took place Tuesday afternoon, September 1, between followers of BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury and Jubo Dal leader Kazi Salahuddin in Sitakunda municipal area.

Aslam Chowdhury is a member of the BNP Chairman's Advisory Council and Kazi Salahuddin is a former president of Chattogram North District Jubo Dal. In the last parliamentary election, the BNP initially nominated Salahuddin for Chattogram 4, which covers Sitakunda and part of the city. The nomination was later changed to Aslam Chowdhury. He won the election but the High Court declared his membership in parliament void over a loan default issue.

As announced earlier, Aslam Chowdhury's followers gathered at L.K. Siddiqi Square in Sitakunda municipality around 3 p.m. today to observe the party's founding anniversary program. Kazi Salahuddin's followers gathered at Moonstar Community Center opposite the upazila parishad.

Eyewitnesses said the followers of the two leaders faced each other in the municipal area while marching and chasing and counter chasing began. Besides banners and festoons, they were carrying bamboo sticks, clubs and iron rods. A man wearing a panjabi and jeans was seen walking in front of police with a firearm in his hand.

At one point during the chasing and counter chasing, five to six cocktails exploded. The two sides then began clashing with sticks. One side snatched banners and festoons from the other. Police quickly brought the situation under control and drove both sides back to their respective program venues.

Following the clash, followers of Kazi Salahuddin blocked the highway in the Bashbaria area of Sitakunda while followers of Aslam Chowdhury blocked the highway in the municipal area. The blockade caused traffic congestion stretching more than 10 kilometers on the highway. Hundreds of long distance vehicles remained stranded. The traffic congestion continued until 4:45 pm. Passengers suffered as a result.

Sitakunda Police Station Officer in Charge (OC) Mahinul Islam told Agamir Somoy, “There was pushing and shoving between the two sides. There was no clash that caused injuries. We moved them away. Both sides are now holding their programs peacefully at separate locations. There was a blockade on the road for a maximum of about 20 minutes.”

Asked about the display of firearms, the OC said, “We did not see anything like that.”