At least 50 people, including journalists, were injured as clashes broke out between activists of the BNP and Andalib Rahman Partha's Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) in Bhola on Saturday.

The two groups engaged in chases, counter-chases, brickbat throwing, and crude bomb explosions. Several motorcycles parked on the road and the BJP’s local office were vandalized during the violence.

The clashes erupted around 12:30 pm near the New Market and Bhola Municipality areas.

Witnesses said the violence flared when BNP and BJP brought out separate processions around the same time.

BJP leaders and activists held a rally at their office in the Mahajan Patti area before bringing out a procession, while BNP members marched from their office toward New Market. As the two groups came face to face, they began hurling bricks at each other, leaving dozens injured.

Police later intervened to bring the situation under control and deployed additional forces in the area.

Both parties traded blame over the incident.

At a press conference later in the day, BNP leaders claimed that BJP activists launched an attack on their peaceful procession near the Bangla School Bridge area. “BJP members threw crude bombs and bricks at us, injuring several of our leaders and activists, many of whom were hospitalized,” said district BNP member secretary Raisul Alam, accompanied by joint conveners Humayun Kabir Sopan and Enamul Haque.

On the other hand, Bhola district BJP’s organizing secretary Advocate Monirul Islam alleged that BNP supporters attacked their rally and vandalized their party office during a leaflet distribution campaign in support of party chairman Barrister Andalib Rahman Partha. “Around 30 of our activists were injured, six of whom were sent to Barishal for advanced treatment,” he said, accusing a faction of BNP of attempting to disrupt unity within the party ahead of the national elections.