20 injured in Cumilla as two BNP factions clash at MP’s reception

CUMILLA:  At least 20 people were injured in a clash between supporters of two potential Union Parishad (UP) chairman candidates during a reception programme for a lawmaker in Titas upazila of Cumilla.

During the incident, Selim Bhuiyan, MP for Cumilla-2 (Homna-Titas), left the stage and took shelter at a nearby school.

Local sources said the clash broke out around 4:00pm on Thursday on the playground of Dr Khondaker Mosharraf Hossain High School in Gopalpur village under Jiarakandi Union of Titas upazila.

Following the incident, Titas Upazila BNP Vice-President Emdad Hossain Akhand was expelled from the party later that night.

According to the sources and the event organisers, Jamal Uddin Pradhan, treasurer of Titas Upazila BNP and a potential chairman candidate for Jiarakandi Union Parishad, organised the reception ahead of the upcoming UP elections.

Earlier, the lawmaker inaugurated the brick-laying work on an earthen road in Gopalpur and the roof-casting work on an old bridge over the Nagerchar-Gopalpur canal. After having lunch at Jamal Uddin Pradhan’s residence, he went to the event venue with party leaders and activists.

At the programme, Emdad Hossain Akhand, vice-president of the upazila BNP and another potential chairman candidate, arrived on stage with his supporters. Tensions suddenly escalated into a clash between his supporters and those of Jamal Uddin.

Both groups attacked each other with sticks, chairs and wooden poles taken from banners and festoons. Videos of the clash spread on Facebook, triggering widespread discussion in Titas and neighbouring upazilas.

The injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Cumilla Medical College Hospital, Titas Upazila Health Complex and Daudkandi Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

At Daudkandi Upazila Health Complex, four residents of Gopalpur village — Md Fahim, 22, Md Roni, 34, M A Jihad, 19, and Md Islam, 22 — received treatment.

As Fahim and Roni’s conditions deteriorated, they were referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition.