Two people were killed and 50 others injured in a clash between two groups of villagers involving nine villages over longstanding enmity at Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district on Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Habibur Rahman, 35, and Akter Mia, 45, both belonging to villages under Nasirnagar upazila.
Local people said there had been enmity between the supporters of BNP activist Rahim Talukdar and independent candidate Kashem Mia over the 13th Parliamentary election.
Tension had been brewing since the day of the election, when one Zia Mia was detained by the Army at Goyalnagar High School polling centre over alleged vote rigging. He was later sentenced to 15 days’ imprisonment by a mobile court under section 171 of the Penal Code.
Zia Mia was released from jail three days ago and returned to the area. He suspected that Shishu Mia, a supporter of the independent candidate, had snitched to the Army, leading to his arrest.
Recently, Zia Mia allegedly assaulted Shishu Mia and snatched his motorcycle, in the build up to the clash Tuesday.
Earlier March 17, the two groups had already come to blows, which had to be eventually settled by local influential people.
Fighting erupted on Tuesday morning again between the supporters of (BNP-backed) Rahim Talukdar and (independent candidate-backed) Kashem Mia as the tension reached its peak.
Several hundred people from Laluartuku, Dakshindia, Shibpur, Jamarbali, Maijkhola, Kadamtali, Goyalnagar, Machhma and Rampur villages, equipped with local lethal weapons joined in, turning the area into a battleground.
Habibur Rahman and Akter Mia died on the spot, while many others were injured in chase and counter-chase and brick-batting.
The injured were taken to local hospitals, and the Sadar Hospital.
On information, police from Nasirnagar Police Station and Chatalpar outpost rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further violence.
Officer-in-Charge of Nasirnagar Police Station Md Shahinur Islam said the clash erupted over previous enmity.