4 injured in alleged attack on BNP office in Noakhali's Hatiya

The injured include members of the party and its affiliated organisations, who were allegedly beaten and attacked with sharp weapons

Four people have reportedly been injured after an attack on a BNP office in Noakhali's Hatiya Upazila.

The incident took place on Saturday evening at Char King Union's Bhairab Bazar, according to Hatiya Police Station chief (OC) Md Saiful Alam.

The BNP has accused activists of the Awami League, whose political activities are currently banned, of carrying out the attack following the arrest of a suspect in an assault case.

The injured include members of the BNP and its affiliated organisations, who were allegedly beaten and attacked with sharp weapons.

They were identified as Md Saharaj, a member of the Krishak Dal, Md Rubel and Md Monir, both activists of the Jubo Dal, and Kabir Uddin Majnu, a member of a Hatiya BNP committee.

According to Mozakker Bari, a member of the Char King Union unit of the BNP’s volunteer wing, he was attacked and seriously injured with sharp weapons at a tea stall in Bridge Bazar on the night of Dec 13 by Abu Taher, an office secretary of the local Awami League unit, and his associates. Four days later, on Dec 17, Bari filed a case at the police station against Taher and 12 others.

Police said that on Saturday evening, Sub-Inspector Mahbub Uddin led an operation at Bhairab Bazar to arrest suspects named in that case, during which one of the accused, identified by a single name as Riaz, was detained.

Bari alleged that later that evening, Taher led a group of supporters, named as Rahim Majhi, Didar, Bidyut, Abul Kalam Bashar and Jewel, in an attack on the BNP’s ward-level office at Bhairab Bazar. He said Krishak Dal leader Md Saharaj was hacked, while three others were beaten and injured.

Local Awami League leader Abu Taher could not be reached for comment on the allegations.

OC Saiful said there had been a clash between the two sides on Dec 13 over local dominance. He said police arrested one suspect during Saturday’s drive, but clashes broke out again after officers left the scene with the detainee.

He added that an investigation was under way and that legal action would be taken based on the findings.