At least six people have been injured after a clash broke out between two rival factions of the local BNP in Melandaha, Jamalpur, over early campaigning for the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) elections.
The incident took place on Wednesday evening in the Char Gobindi Bazar area of Mahmudpur Union, where supporters of two prospective chairman candidates became involved in a violent confrontation, according to Melandaha Police Station chief ATM Mahmudul Haque.
According to local BNP leaders and police, Mahmudpur Union BNP President Tayebur Rahman and Melandaha Upazila BNP Joint General Secretary Nure Alam Talukder Runu have both been campaigning for the chairman's post ahead of the UP elections. Tensions had been brewing between their supporters for several days.
On Tuesday afternoon, supporters of Runu held an election campaign procession and public outreach programme before gathering at Char Gobindi Bazar, where they allegedly made provocative remarks directed at Tayebur. This sparked tensions, which soon escalated into a heated exchange between supporters of the two sides.
In protest against the incident, followers of Tayebur visited the market on Wednesday, where the two groups became involved in a clash, leaving at least six people injured. Police rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control.
