Bangladesh News

Two feuding factions of Khulna BNP held two separate rallies and processions in the city yesterday afternoon on the occasion of the 28th founding anniversary of the party.

Earlier on Thursday night, the rivals filed a case each against the other with the Khalishpur Police Station following clashes the same day.

Lawmaker Ali Asgar Lobi faction held their rally at the Shahid Maharaj Square that was presided over by Lobi. City Mayor Sheikh Tayebur Rahman and Khulna BNP President professor Majidul Islam was present at the rally.

Their rival, lawmaker Nurul Islam Manju faction, held another rally at Sonali Bank Square and it was presided over by Manju. A huge number of ward commissioners, 24 out of 31, and four out of five thana committee presidents attended this rally.

Speakers at both rallies, however, called upon the people to stand united against any conspiracy to foil the next general election.

Security measures were tightened in and around both rallies in apprehension of violence as provocative slogans were being chanted by supporters of both factions against each other.

On Thursday, hundreds of Manju supporters led by Whip Ashraf Hossain marched in a procession and attacked the Lobi faction at noon demonstrating near Kadamtala area under Khalishpur as the Lobi faction showed black flags to Whip Ashraf and branded him a black sheep of BNP.

Two leaders of Khalishpur thana BNP, Sajjad Ali and Abul Kalam, were injured and four shops were vandalised during the clash.

Followers of Ali Asgar Lobi filed a case at around 10:00pm against Whip Ashraf Hossain and eight others — followers of lawmaker Nurul Islam Manju — accusing them of attacking on a peaceful demonstration brought out by followers of Lobi.

Soon after that, Manju followers also filed a case at 10:40pm against Abdul Malek, president of Khalishpur thana BNP, and four others from Lobi faction making similar accusations.