50 hurt as Jubo Dal, Shibir clash in Noakhali

 
At least 50 people were injured as activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, and BNP's youth Jubo Dal locked in a clash in Noakhali's Sadar upazila on Sunday.

The violence broke out on Sunday afternoon at Kashem Bazar Jame Masjid in Neazpur Union over a planned event, said Sudharam Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kamrul Islam.

After the clash, Chhatra Shibir activists took position inside the mosque while Jubo Dal activists gathered outside. Fazle Rabbi, publicity secretary of the district unit Chhatra Shibir, said they organised a "Darsul Quran Programme" at the Kashem Bazar Jame Mosque on Saturday, when a group of Jubo Dal men attacked the event.

In protest, the Chhatrashibir announced another Quran teaching programme at the same mosque after Asr prayer on Sunday.

Following the announcement, leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated bodies attacked Chhatrashibir members at the mosque. Later, they locked the mosque and kept them confined.At least 25 leaders and activists of the Jamaat and Chhatrashibir were injured as the attackers pelted brickbats at them, Rabbi said.

Local BNP leaders, however, claimed that Shibir activists were conducting political activities inside the mosque and attacked when obstructed. They said 20 BNP activists were injured, with eight admitted to Noakhali General Hospital.

Md Jashim Uddin, general secretary of Noakhali Sadar upazila BNP, condemned the attack and demanded punishment for the perpetrators. On the other hand, Jamaat district Ameer Ishaq Khandkar accused BNP of obstructing religious activities.