Taltali (Barguna) Correspondent

There has been extreme tension in the city for the past 2 days due to the clash between two groups of BNP in Taltoli, Barguna. In a police operation to control the situation, the police have arrested 5 people along with 1 airgun, 1 foreign weapon and 4 rounds of bullets. A large number of law enforcement forces have been deployed in the city to strengthen security in this incident.

Police arrested five people with foreign weapons and four rounds of ammunition from the Gabtoli area of the upazila around 2 pm on Wednesday (August 19).

The arrested are Limon Sikder (28), son of Liton Sikder of Angarpara in Taltali, Anik Majumder (25), son of Sanjay Majumder of Chakamiya area in Kalapara, Md. Jamal (27), son of Shah Alam of Keorabunia in Barguna, Jihad Khan (35), son of Anwar Khan of Lohagara in Narail district, and Hridoy Molla (24), son of Moslem Molla of Keorabunia in Barguna.

According to police and local sources, tension spread among party leaders and workers over a speech made by former Upazila BNP member secretary Mia Mostafizur Rahman Mostaq about former Prime Minister Late Begum Khaleda Zia's birthday anniversary on August 15. Following this, former Upazila BNP joint convener Mahbubul Alam Mamun and former Upazila BNP member secretary Mia Mostafizur Rahman Mostaq's group, followers of Nazrul Islam Molla, announced a counter-protest rally on Wednesday. This led to fears of clashes between the two groups all over the city.

Former member secretary of Taltoli Upazila BNP, Mia Mostafizur Rahman Mostak, said, "With the open support of the district BNP, a section of the upazila BNP has been threatening me and my people for the past few days. They hired outsiders to carry out a terrorist attack on today's rally. They have been detained by the police."

Taltoli Upazila BNP former joint convener Mahbubul Alam Mamun said, "The protest rally on behalf of the BNP has been stopped on the orders of the upazila administration. I am not aware of the recovery of weapons."

Taltoli Police Station OC Shariful Islam said, "Based on secret information, the district police and various law enforcement agencies were informed that some people with weapons were present in the area, focusing on the protest rally of two groups of BNP in Taltoli. Later, with the help of locals, a raid was conducted and 5 people were arrested along with foreign weapons and 4 rounds of bullets. We will investigate and find out the real incident and take further legal action."

Taltali Police Station OC Saidul Islam said, "Weapons and bullets have been recovered from two places. The joint force operation is still ongoing."

Taltoli UNO Atish Sarkar said, "To maintain the law and order situation, two groups have been ordered to stop their meetings and gatherings."