Shawdesh Desk:

Over 50 people were injured as activists of the ruling Awami League and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party locked in clashes in Khagrachhari on Tuesday morning.

The clash broke out at Shapla Chattar area in the district town at about 10:30am when local BNP leaders and activists were bringing out their procession as part of the party’s central program.

AL’s local unit had also planned a procession around the same time.

The two groups locked in clashes and chased each other for over an hour in the Shapla Chattar and nearby areas, locals said.

Some 25-30 AL activists including district Awami League Deputy Secretary Nurul Azam, Md Almas, Kyajri Marma and some 20-25 BNP activists including district BNP’s coordinator secretary Md Hossain Babu were injured.

Police brought the situation under control by using tear shells. Additional police have been deployed in the area.

Local AL and BNP leaders have blamed each other for initiating the clash.

Khagrachhari AL general secretary Nirmalendu Chowdhury said, ‘The BNP cadres attacked us with sticks when we were on the way to take part in the ‘development procession’. They vandalised numerous commercial buildings, including the municipality building of Khagrachhari.’

Khagrachhari BNP general secretary MN Absar said, ‘More than 50 leaders and activists were hurt as Awami League activists attacked us when we attempted to march in accordance with the central program.’

Some of the injured were taken to the Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital.