Mosque Turns Battleground in Noakhali: BNP–Jamaat Clash Leaves Dozens Hurt

Nearly fifty activists from both sides were injured in clashes between the BNP and Jamaat in Sadar upazila of Noakhali.

The clash took place at around 5:00 pm on Sunday (19 October) in Kasem Bazar area of Newazpur union. The information was confirmed by Sudharam Model Police Station’s OIC Md. Kamrul Islam.

Fazle Rabbi, publicity secretary of Noakhali District Chhatra Shibir, said that yesterday (Saturday) Chhatra Shibir organized a mosque-based “Darsul Quran” program at Kasem Bazar Jame Mosque. He alleged that a leader of Jubo Dal led an attack there. In protest of that attack, Jamaat–Shibir leaders and activists announced a Quran teaching (talim) program at the same mosque after Asr prayer on Sunday. At around 5:00 pm, BNP and its allied activists attacked them at the mosque. As a result, 30 Jamaat–Shibir activists were injured.

Meanwhile, several local BNP leaders and activists said that after Asr prayer Shibir activists began party activity at the mosque with slogans. When BNP activists tried to stop them, they were attacked. Twenty BNP activists were injured in the fighting. Among them, Newazpur Union BNP publicity secretary Md. Akhtar, former president of the union Chhatra Dal Ziaur Rahman, and six others — eight in total — were admitted to Noakhali General Hospital.

VP Jasim, general secretary of Sadar Upazila BNP, said 20 BNP activists were injured in the Jamaat–Shibir attack. “I want the attackers to be punished,” he said.

Isak Khandakar, Ameer of the district Jamaat, said that local BNP obstructed Jamaat–Shibir’s mosque-based program on Saturday. In protest of that incident, BNP activists attacked the talim program and 30 Jamaat–Shibir activists were injured. He also alleged that after beating them, BNP activists locked the mosque and kept them confined.

Md. Liakat Akbar, Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle), said Jamaat–Shibir had organized at the mosque with its activists on Saturday afternoon. When local BNP people obstructed them, clashes occurred. In the afternoon, in response to that incident, more than a hundred Jamaat–Shibir activists gathered in the Kasem Bazar area and later clashed with BNP. Police and the army reached the scene after receiving reports and brought the situation under control.

He added that the exact number of injured in the clash could not yet be confirmed. The injured are receiving treatment at various hospitals.