20 hurt in Patuakhali
Our Correspondent, Patuakhali At
least 20 people were injured as two groups of Awami League activists
were locked in a clash during its Patuakhali district unit council
yesterday morning.In the presence of Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, supporters of AL leader Dr Shafiqul Islam, also mayor of Patuakhali municipality, and another leader of the same party Tariquzzaman Moni, also chairman of Sadar upazila parishad, attacked each other.
Advocate Shahjahan Mia, president of the district unit AL, presided over the council while Amu was present there as the chief guest. Moni is a son of Shahjahan.
The clash ensued soon after the programme began around 11:00am at Shaheed Alauddin Children Park as the supporters of the two AL leaders were chanting slogans against each other.
Over 500 plastic chairs were smashed during the clash.
On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
The injured took first aid.
The council began again half an hour after the clash.
Shafiqul alleged that some BCL men loyal to Moni first attacked him and tore his shirt.
“My supporters tried to save me from the attackers,” he said.
Moni denied the allegation, claiming it was the supporters of Shafiqul who had attacked his men without any provocation from his side.
After the council, a 101-member committee of Patuakhali district unit AL was announced, naming Shahjahan Mia its president and Khan Mosharef Hossain general secretary. The duo had been in the same posts in the old committee formed about 18 years ago. The last council was held in 1996.
Central AL leaders advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Abul Hasanat Abdullah, Mahbubul Alam Hanif MP, Jahangir Kabir Nanak MP, Bahauddin Nasim MP, Chief Whip ASM Feroz, AKM Jahangir Hossain MP and Mahbubur Rahman Talukder MP, among others, spoke on the occasion.
