More than 15 people were injured in a clash between activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP over the vacant acting chairman position of Mohdipur Union Parishad on Wednesday in the Palashbari area of the district.
Zulfikar Ali Bhattu, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Palashbari Police Station, said that the chairman's post in Mohdipur Union Parishad had been vacant for a long time. Tensions escalated when political differences between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami flared up.
Earlier in the day, Palashbari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kamrul Islam held a meeting with Mohdipur UP members in his office to discuss the issue, with leaders and activists from both BNP and Jamaat in attendance.
The situation took a violent turn when an argument over who would assume the acting chairman position escalated into a clash, leaving at least 15 people injured. The UNO also mentioned hearing the sound of several cocktail explosions during the altercation.
The injured individuals are receiving treatment at various hospitals in the district.
Local residents reported that the clash caused multiple chases and counter-chases between the two parties, leading to traffic disruptions on the Dhaka-Rangpur Highway.
To prevent further violence, additional police forces have been deployed to the area. Md Mosharraf Hossain, the Superintendent of Gaibandha Police, confirmed that army patrols have also been increased in Palashbari to help control the situation.