Jumbangla Desk: An incident of attack and counter-attack took place in a protest march of one side demanding the closure of the BNP conference in Bancharampur of Brahmanbaria. At least 54 people were injured. During the incident, at least 10 shops in a market were set on fire and 10 to 12 motorcycles were reportedly burnt.

The attack took place in front of Musa Market in Pratapganj Bazaar of Upazila Sadar at around 12:30 PM on Monday (November 18). The personal office of upazila BNP member secretary and former VP AK Musa, who led one party in the attack, was also burnt.

Several leaders of the two conflicting parties of Upazila BNP and some eyewitnesses and police and fire service sources have revealed this information.

BNP leaders said that the bi-annual conference of Bancharampur Upazila BNP is scheduled to be held on November 20. There was tension between former MP and BNP executive committee member MA Khalek and supporters of Central Krishak Dal joint general secretary agriculturist Mehdi Hasan Palash around this conference. The activists-supporters of MA Khalek took out a protest march from Palli Vidyut Mor (Matur Bari Mor) of Upazila Sadar to demand the closure of the conference. Thousands of people took part in the procession with sticks, rams and hammers.

Eyewitnesses said that when the procession passed the local Musa Market area, the workers-supporters of the other side started throwing bricks and stones from the roofs of various buildings in the vicinity. Later they attacked the marchers with indigenous weapons. At that time people from both sides clashed. At least 54 leaders and activists of both sides were injured in the nearly hour-long clash. 36 of the injured have been sent to Bancharampur Upazila Health Complex and six to Dhaka for better treatment.

Bancharampur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Ranjan Burman said that 54 people have received treatment so far. Six of them have been referred to Dhaka.

Leader of Bancharampur Upazila Fire Service. Abdul Quader said that two units of the fire brigade brought the fire under control. The extent of the fire damage is yet to be ascertained.

Bancharampur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Morshed Alam said that on November 20, the clash between the leaders and activists of the two sides took place around the upazila BNP council. On receiving the information, the policemen went to the spot and brought the situation under control. At present the situation is calm. Army personnel are present at the spot along with the police to avoid further clashes.

Former MP MA Khalek said, "As soon as we came in front of Musa Market with a peaceful procession, bricks were thrown at our activists without any provocation. We peacefully marched to demand the abolition of the council. In this procession, the supporters of Krishak Dal leader Mehdi Hasan Palash attacked him.

The member secretary and former VP of the upazila BNP led by the other side, AK Musa, did not pick up his phone number several times to inquire about his statement.

Mehdi Hasan Palash, Joint General Secretary of Central Farmers' Party said, I was not in Bancharampur, I am staying in Dhaka. Apart from that we had no program today. We are in favor of the conference of BNP to be held next Wednesday. Our leaders and activists are working to make the conference a success. They are going door to door of voters. On the other hand, MA Khalek's people pelted bricks with their own people as per the pre-planned plan to create an environment for the imposition of Section 144 to thwart the BNP's central conference and later attacked, vandalized and set fire.