Raozan (Chittagong) Correspondent

Two BNP groups clashed and chase -counter chase happened over an Iftar gathering in Noajishpur, Raojan on Wednesday.

Thirteen people were injured in the incident from both groups. Five motorcycles were also burnt. A CNG auto-rickshaw was vandalised.

On Wednesday from 4 pm to 7:30 pm, the incidents took place in the Yusup Khan Dighi Par, Chowdhury Ghata Madan Chowdhury Bari Jame Masjid Math and Gahira Chaumuhani areas of Noajishpur in the upazila. Nine people were injured, including 9 others, among the followers of Golam Akbar Khandaker.

The injured, including the shot Jubo Dal activist Md. Abdul Qayyum (28), are members of Noajishpur Union BNP General Secretary Forkan Sikder (44), Joint Convener Md. Nurul Humayun (28), Jubo Dal member Md. Rifat (27), Jubo Dal member secretary Md. Sohel, BNP leader Jahangir Alam. Four people were injured, including stabbing, among the followers of Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury. The injured are Jubo Dal leader Gazi Morshed, Md. Sekandar, Md. Badsha, Md. Forkan.

Of them, Qayyum and Morshed are undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital as their condition is critical. Qayyum was shot in the forehead and Gazi Morshed's intestines were thrown out due to the impact of the knife.

It is learned that at 4 pm, during an Iftar Mahfil organized by the followers of Golam Akbar Khandaker at the Noajishpur Madan Chowdhury Jame Mosque ground under the joint management of the Noajishpur Union BNP, Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal and its affiliates, Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury's followers came on 20-25 motorcycles and attacked. The Iftar Mahfil was disrupted. At that time, a Jubo Dal leader named Md. Qayyum was shot.

Then, at around 7:30 pm, the followers of BNP Central Committee Vice Chairman Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury, who were lying in wait at Yusup Khan Dighi from the east, blocked their path and injured them by shooting and slashing them with knives. At this time, many abandoned their motorcycles and fled without a trace.

Five motorcycles of Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury's followers were set on fire. A CNG auto-rickshaw was vandalized. In this regard, Forkan Sikadar, General Secretary of Noajishpur Union BNP, a follower of Golam Akbar Khandaker, said, "We have organized an Iftar Mahfil on the orders of our leader Tarique Rahman. At around 4 pm, Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury's followers led by Sahabu, Forkan, Didarul Alam Wahedi, Sherkhan, Siraj, Farid came with 20-25 motorcycles carrying weapons and attacked our Jubo Dal leader Qayyum in the forehead. They beat up 8-10 of our leaders and activists.

We do not know who attacked Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury's followers in the evening. Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury's North District Jubo Dal leader Md. Selim Uddin said, "On our way back from the Iftar Mahfil in Chikdair Union, a terrorist group of 20-30 people led by Forkan Sikder, a follower of Golam Akbar Khandaker, suddenly attacked our motorcycle convoy. They opened fire and hacked us, seriously injuring 4-5 of us.

We strongly demand that these armed terrorists be arrested and brought to justice. Didarul Alam Wahedi, Farid, Sahabu of Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury said, "The accusation against us is false. While we were going to the party Iftar Mahfil in Chikdair Union, Forkan Sikder, a terrorist identified by Golam Akbar Khandaker, opened fire. We ran away and saved our lives."

Later, on the way to Noajishpur after finishing the Iftar Mahfil, they attacked us again in the Dighi Par area of Yusup Khan under the leadership of Forkan Sikadar. They hacked and injured one of our workers with sharp knives and injured three others. Five of our motorcycles were set on fire and burnt. A CNG auto-rickshaw was vandalized and several people's smartphones were snatched.

We demand exemplary punishment for this incident. Sub-inspector of Raozan Police Station Md. Nasir Uddin, who came to inspect the scene, said, "After receiving news of a chase and counter-chase between two BNP groups in Noajishpur, I reached the spot and saw 5 motorcycles burning. No one was at the scene. Earlier, the Iftar Mahfil attack took place at around 4 pm. The details will be known after the investigation.

Raojan Police Station OC Monirul Islam Bhuiyan confirmed the incident.