At least 25 people were injured in an hour-long gunfight prompted by an attack by BNP men on a Chhatra League gathering in Ishwardi upazila yesterday.
The attackers also vandalised 50 business establishments, including five banks and three ATM booths in Station Bazar area, and a train in Ishwardi rail station.
Of the injured, 17 have been admitted to Ishwardi upazila health complex.
Fairuz Parvin, emergency medical officer of the health complex, said the wounded were mostly bullet hit and that the condition of five of them was critical.
Upazila Parishad Chairman Nuruzzaman Biswas claimed that all the injured belonged to Chhatra League, pro-Awami League student body, and Jubo League, youth wing of the AL.
According to witnesses, the upazila unit Chhatra League brought out a procession in the afternoon marking its 66th founding anniversary. As soon as the procession reached the upazila AL office, BNP men swooped on it.
Officer-in-Charge Biman Kumar Das of Ishwardi Police Station said the clash had begun after a crude bomb was blasted near the AL office.
Witnesses said the attackers had hurled several crude bombs at Chhatra League and Jubo League activists prompting the latter to retaliate with brick chips. Both the sides also exchanged bullets.
Police reached the scene within 10 to 15 minutes. They used rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.
At around 2:00pm, BNP supporters attacked Khulna-bound intercity train Mahananda Express at the rail station. They broke most of its glass-windows and halted rail communication from Ishwardi for an hour.
After that they swooped on the nearby market and vandalised 50 business establishments.
Police arrested nine BNP activists in connection with the clash and vandalism as of filing this report at 8:30pm.
OC Biman Kumar said joint force was conducting drives to arrest the culprits and that law and normalcy returned after the deployment of additional police in different places.
Source: The Daily Star
