Clashes broke out between leaders and activists of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in Lakshmipur, leaving at least ten people from both sides injured. The injured were admitted to the district hospital and several private clinics. The incident took place on Thursday evening in the Botgachhtola area of Ward No. 7 under Charshahi Union of Sadar Upazila.

According to BNP leaders, Jamaat activists were collecting national identity cards from local voters, which led to tensions and eventually turned into violence. In protest, Jamaat leaders and supporters brought out a procession in the town around 8:30 pm, chanting slogans against the BNP.

After receiving news of the clash, Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Hossain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi visited the district hospital at night and spoke with the injured and others involved. Supporters of both parties later gathered at the hospital, raising slogans and further escalating tensions. Additional police forces have since been deployed in the hospital area.

Among the injured are Charshahi Union Jamaat-e-Islami Youth Division Vice-President Sakib Hossain, Secretary Abdur Rahman, Ward No. 4 President Hezbulllah Sohel, Workers’ Welfare Federation leaders Imran Hossain and Shahadat Hossain Khokon, as well as BNP activists Russell Bhuiyan and Kamal Hossain.

Local residents said Jamaat’s female activists had gone to a house in the area for party outreach activities and asked voters for their national ID cards. This sparked an argument between BNP leader Russell Bhuiyan and Jamaat youth leader Abdur Rahman. At one stage, Abdur Rahman was assaulted, triggering clashes between supporters of both groups.

Chandraganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Morshed Alam said a dispute over requests for voter ID cards led to a scuffle, resulting in injuries to several BNP and Jamaat activists. He added that the incident is under investigation and legal action will be taken.

District Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary Ashraful Rahman Hafiz Ullah claimed BNP activists carried out a planned attack on Jamaat members, calling the incident deliberate and rejecting allegations of collecting national ID cards.

Meanwhile, Lakshmipur District BNP Joint Convener Hasibur Rahman alleged that Jamaat activists were indeed collecting voters’ national ID cards, which led to an argument and later violence in which several BNP activists were injured.