The local administration imposed Section 144 for two days in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi following a clash between two groups of BNP over the party’s founding anniversary celebrations.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Faisal Ahmed issued the notification on Tuesday afternoon which banned all meetings, gatherings, and processions in the municipality from 5pm on Tuesday to 12am on Wednesday.

The party activists said that the group led by retired Major General Sharif Uddin, planned to hold a program at Mahishal Bari in Kakonhat municipality on Wednesday, where  Sharif Uddin, adviser to the BNP chairperson, himself was expected to attend as the chief guest.

Meanwhile, the Godagari upazila BNP announced a separate event in front of the party office on Wednesday afternoon and nomination seeker Advocate Sultan Islam Tarek was scheduled to attend this program.

Eyewitnesses said the clash occurred Tuesday afternoon when Sharif Uddin’s supporters blocked preparations at the upazila BNP office.

Later, police arrived and controlled the situation.

Abdus Salam Shawal, president of Godagari upazila BNP, said that they had received prior permission from administration to celebrate its anniversary.

 “Sharif Uddin’s supporters unfairly deterred our program, although two venues are almost 1 kilometer apart,” he added.

Ziaul Haque Sorkar, president of Kakonhat municipality BNP, said, “Now that Section 144 is imposed, we will decide on the program after discussing with our leader (Sharif Uddin),” he added.

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OC Ruhul Amin of Godagari Model Police Station said that police controlled the situation after receiving reports of the clash.

UNO Faisal Ahmed said both groups had informed the administration about their events in advance.

“As they clashed before the events, Section 144 has now been imposed to maintain law and order,” he added.