Andaleeve Rahman Partho, chairman of the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), has strongly condemned an attack on his party activists by BNP supporters following a procession in Bhola on Saturday.
In a Facebook post, Partho said thousands of people had joined a BJP election procession in Bhola Sadar on Saturday morning. “When the peaceful procession ended before Zuhr prayers, only a small number of leaders and activists remained at the BJP office. At that time, out of jealousy, a group of 400–500 BNP supporters attacked our leaders and activists without any reason and vandalised the party office,” he wrote.
“This is sad and disappointing, and I strongly protest against it,” he added.
Partho warned that if such incidents continue, the respect of the nationalist force could be severely damaged nationwide, affecting the country’s entire voting process. “There is no alternative to remaining united,” he said.
50 injured as BNP, BJP supporters clash in Bhola, party office vandalised
However, witnesses said the violence flared when BNP and BJP brought out separate processions around the same time.
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.