BNP and Jamaat Activists Clash Over Discussion at Kushtia Mosque, at Least Four Injured
Activists of the BNP and Jamaat have clashed in Mirpur, Kushtia, over a discussion held at a mosque after prayers. At least four people from both sides were injured in the altercation.
The incident took place on Thursday (October 22) after Asr prayers at a mosque adjacent to Tara Chand Mondal Government Primary School in Kursha Union of the upazila. Among the injured are Kursha Union Jamaat Ameer Joynal Abedin and Union Jubo Dal Joint Convener Swapan Sheikh.
According to local sources, a discussion was under way at the mosque after Asr prayers ended. At one stage, an argument began between the two sides over the discussion. It later turned into tension, and activists of both sides became involved in scuffles and fighting.
Four people were injured. They were rescued and given treatment at Mirpur Upazila Health Complex. Tension spread in the area after the incident, though the situation later returned to normal.
Mirpur Upazila BNP General Secretary Khandaker Tipu Sultan said Jamaat men were administering oaths to ordinary people inside the mosque. When BNP activists requested them not to hold political discussions at the mosque, Jamaat activists beat up the BNP activists. A scuffle then broke out between both sides.
Mirpur Upazila Jamaat Ameer Khandaker Rezaul Karim, however, gave a different account. He said a regular religious discussion based on the Quran and Hadith was under way at the mosque after prayers, with no political purpose or meeting involved.
Rezaul Karim alleged that the discussion was unjustly obstructed and that their activists were later attacked and beaten. Union Jamaat Ameer Joynal Abedin, Jamaat activist Ibrahim and another person were injured, he said.
The counter-allegations from the two sides have left the origin of the incident unclear. One side says political activity was taking place at the mosque; the other says it was an entirely religious discussion that was obstructed.
Mirpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Shahidul Islam said several people from both sides were injured in an argument and scuffle between BNP and Jamaat supporters over a discussion at the mosque. On receiving the news, he visited the scene himself.
The OC added that the situation in the area is currently normal. Surveillance has been increased to avoid any untoward incident, and the process of taking legal action over the incident is under way.
A clash between activists of political parties at a religious place like a mosque has sparked widespread local discussion. Questions have been raised over how a discussion in the calm atmosphere after prayers escalated into fighting.
Although police say the situation is normal, with the legal process under way, attention will remain on the next developments. Verifying the allegations of both sides and uncovering what actually happened is now the central task.
