15 injured in clash between BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad in Galachipa, Patuakhali

At least 15 people, including a woman, were injured in a clash between supporters of the BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali on Thursday night.

The incident took place around 9:00pm at Dakshin Kupalbera intersection in Charshiba village under Charkazal union. According to a UNB report, the violence broke out following an argument over who would receive the party nomination — BNP leader Hasan Mamun or Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur, popularly known as VP Nur.

The injured BNP members were identified as Charshiba ward Jubo Dal organising secretary Ilias Rarhi and activists Sabuj Rarhi, Nur Nabi Rarhi, Hasan Rarhi, Kuddus Bepari, Yakub Rarhi, Omar Rarhi, Rahan Rarhi, and Soleman Rarhi.

Those injured from Gono Odhikar Parishad include Ward Jubo Odhikar general secretary Md Sohel Khalifa, and activists Azmir Khalifa, Shahabul Khalifa, Amena Begum, Naeem Khalifa, and Nabin Khalifa.

All the injured were taken to the upazila health complex for treatment.

Locals said Gono Odhikar Parishad held a meeting in Kupalbera Bazar on Thursday evening to form a ward committee, with supporters arriving on motorcycles from nearby areas. Around the same time, BNP activists under Charkazal union unit brought out a procession welcoming central executive committee member Hasan on the eve of the party’s National Revolution and Solidarity Day on November 7.

As both programmes ended, supporters of the two parties came face to face at Dakshin Kupalbera intersection, leading to an argument over the nomination issue that soon escalated into a violent clash.

Injured Jubo Dal leader Ilias claimed they were attacked by Gono Odhikar activists while returning home after their procession. “They had earlier invited BNP supporters to their meeting, but I told them not to go since we would follow Hasan’s directives. They then said Hasan wouldn’t get the nomination and attacked us,” he alleged.

Amena Begum, the mother of injured Gono Odhikar activist Azmir, said BNP men attacked her son near their home as he was returning from the meeting. “When I tried to intervene, they hit me too,” she said.

Aminul Islam Nur, vice president of Dhaka North Jubo Odhikar Parishad and brother of VP Nur, accused BNP supporters of carrying out the attack to intimidate Gono Odhikar activists. “They want to spread fear so that people don’t join our party,” he said, adding that Hasan’s supporters were agitated over the nomination issue.

BNP leader Hasan said they were aware of the incident and were collecting further information. He called on the police to investigate and take appropriate action.

Galachipa Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Ashadur Rahman said law enforcement personnel were deployed immediately after the clash. “Both groups belong to rival families with a history of disputes over local dominance. Members of both sides were injured and taken to hospital,” he said, adding that no written complaint had been filed as of yet.