At least 14 people were injured in a clash between two factions centering the construction of a party office for the Gonodhikar Parishad in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali.
The incident took place on Friday afternoon at Badura Bazar under Amkhola union of the upazila. The injured individuals have been admitted to the Patuakhali and Galachipa Upazila Health Complexes.
Identified injured victims include Kawsar Mridha (40), Abu Bakar (29), Shafiq (29), Mansur (24), Shakil (26), Rezaul Karim (32), Shamsul Alam (28), Shihab (20), and Sujan (25), while the identities of five others remain unconfirmed.
According to local sources, Kawsar Mridha, convener of the union Jubo Odhikar Parishad, along with 10 to 15 supporters, was erecting a structure for the Gonodhikar Parishad party office on government land located in front of local resident Khokon Mridha's property at Badura Bazar.
At that point, several individuals—including Babul Howlader, Jahangir Mridha, Shamsu, and Sohag, residents of Auliapur union in Patuakhali Sadar upazila—objected to the construction, triggering a verbal altercation that soon escalated into a physical clash.
Babul Howlader stated, "We own land at Badura Bazar. On Friday afternoon, several people led by Emdad forcibly tried to raise a structure on my purchased land. When we intervened, a clash broke out between the two sides."
Read nextElite Lifestyle's 19th Outlet Inaugurated in PabnaMeanwhile, Amkhola Union Gonodhikar Parishad Member Secretary Emdad Hossain claimed, "When we attempted to construct the party office on government land, Babul Howlader's people launched an attack and injured 10 of our activists."
Khokon Mridha stated, "There is government chandina [market] land in front of my proprietary land, right beside Babul Howlader's property. Babul Howlader wants to forcefully occupy that government land." Khokon's wife, Sahida Islam Shantana, added, "I have been unable to enjoy possession of my land for a long time. Instead, they pressured me to sell it. Because I support the Gonodhikar Parishad, I permitted them to build the office. The attack was carried out on Friday under the leadership of EPZ contractor Khokon."
Amkhola Union Assistant Land Officer Md. Alauddin stated that nothing could be verified without visiting the spot directly.
Galachipa Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Imtiaz Ahmed acknowledged the incident, stating that police were promptly dispatched to the scene. He noted that no party had filed a written complaint yet, but legal steps would be taken upon receiving one, adding that the local situation remains under control.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Masud Rahaman, Galachipa (Patuakhali) • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
