Shawdesh Desk:

An altercation between two factions of the Awami League turned violent in Anwara, Chattogram, leaving 18 activists, including professor MA Mannan Chowdhury, president of the upazila Awami League, and police constable Mohammad Jabber injured.

The incident occurred on Friday evening during a scheduled gathering of both factions at the upazila’s Bandar Center. To control the situation, the Karnaphuli police fired six blank shots.

The clash took place between supporters of former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed and supporters of current state minister for finance Wasika Ayesha Khan.

During the clash, enraged activists of the Awami League attacked professor MA Mannan Chowdhury, president of the upazila Awami League, Kaiyum chairman and Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, president of Barumchhara union Awami League, supported by former minister Saifuzzaman.

According to locals, state minister of finance Wasika Ayesha Khan’s group and former minister MP Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed’s group organised a rally on the same day to welcome the budget for the financial year 2024-2025 in the national parliament. At one point the two groups clashed.

MA Jasim Uddin, general secretary of Anwara upazila Awami League, said, ‘Our supporters were attacked during the rally organised by our respected MP Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed on Friday evening. We were assaulted when we protested.’

Kazi Mozammel Haque, chairman of Anwara upazila, said, ‘This incident took place in the presence of the officer-in-charge of the Karnaphuli police station. As a result, four of my activists were seriously injured.’

Jahir Hossain, officer-in-charge of the Karnaphuli police station, said, ‘To control the situation, police fired six blank shots and used tear gas shells. One of our police personnel was also seriously injured during the clash. The situation is currently under control and police forces remain stationed to maintain order. A case has been filed at the scene.’