A ten-kilometer long tailback has been created on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway on Tuesday as BNP activists blocked the highway at Bashbaria in Sitakunda upazila following a clash between two factions of BNP that left several people injured.
Vehicular movement on the highway remained suspended for one-and-a-half-hours due to the clash centering the party’s founding anniversary.
The supporters of two BNP leaders--Lion Aslam Chowdhury and Kazi Salahuddin--called rallies at Moon Star Community Centre to mark the party’s founding anniversary in Sitakunda upazila, said Mahinul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Sitakunda Model Police Station.
Supporters of Aslam Chowdhury had been gathering at the community centre field since morning, while supporters of Kazi Salahuddin took position near Hasan Gomosta Mosque in the municipal area.
At around 1pm, Aslam Chowdhury’s supporters brought out a procession towards the municipal area. When the procession reached Hasan Gomosta Mosque, the supporters of both groups engaged in a heated argument, triggering a clash.
A chase and counter chase took place among them, leaving several people injured.
A number of crude bombs were exploded during the clash.
A sales representative of a pharmaceutical company was also beaten after being caught in the clashes, triggering panic among local residents and pedestrians.
Meanwhile, supporters of Kazi Salahuddin blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in the Bashbaria area, halting traffic on both lanes.
The vehicle carrying BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury, who was heading to attend the anniversary programme, was also stuck in the congestion.
Md Shamsudouha, a follower of Kazi Salahuddin and former president of Kumira Union BNP, said the party activists blocked the highway for around one and a half hours, from 2pm to 3:30pm, protesting the attack on Salahuddin’s supporters.
Milton Mondal, sub-inspector of Baro Aulia Highway Police Station said BNP activists blocked the highway in the Bashbaria area around 2pm, bringing traffic on both lanes to a halt.
“Law enforcement agencies intervened and dispersed both sides,” said OC Mahinul.