At least 5 injured and 4 vehicles were damaged in BCL factional clash over supremacy in Vatarkhal of the city on Saturday night to early Sunday. Abu Sayeed, assistant commissioner and spokesman of Barisal Metropolitan Police said hearing the news law enforcers rushed to the spot and took the situation under control. They also arrested 14 persons and seized huge sharp weapons early yesterday. Shakhawat Hossain, Kotwali police station officer in charge, said the arrestees were sent to the jail after lodging two cases under Speedy Trial and Arms Acts after producing before the court yesterday. The arrested BCL cadres were identified as Md Hasan, Rezwan Parvez, Saddam Akon, Kamrul Hasan, Rakib Hossain, Abid Islam, Alif Khan, Al-Amin, Solaiman, Adit Anik, Shuva, Salman Rahman, Roman, and Swadhin Rahman. They were residents of Vatarkhal, Vatikhana, Jordon Road, Zila School, Band Road, Char Kawa, Karnakathi, Katpatty, Kawnia, Agorpur Road, Alekanda areas of the city.
Witnesses said two factions of BCL district and city units locked into clash over distribution of stalls at the upcoming trade fair scheduled to be held on Tuesday at BIWTA workshop area on the Kirtankhola River bank. Following that issue Tahsin Islam Niloy, Nahid Hasan Rabbi, Mohaiminul Islam Tafsi, Emdadul Raihan, Himel and Arafat, cadres of district BCL leaders took position in the area on Friday night. Hearing news BCL cadres led by Rubel, Anik, followers of city BCL organising secretary Pradip Das went to the area and both groups engaged in clash leaving t 4 activists of both groups injured. Among the injured Nahid Hasan Rabbi were admitted to Sher- e- Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) and motorcycles of Raihan and Himel were also damaged. Following earlier clash both groups again engaged in clash in the area at about 10:30 pm yesterday and one Rumman was injured and admitted to local hospital. Four vehicles were damaged during the clash. Leaders of city and district BCL units blamed each other and denied any organisational engagement for the incidents and thanked the law enforcers for taking action.