Awami League infighting in Cumilla leaves Dhaka-Ctg highway closed for 2 hours

Clashes erupted as two factions of the Awami League held rallies in Chauddagram upazila of Cumilla on Tuesday morning, halting traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway for two hours.

Tensions escalated at around 10am when supporters of Cumilla 11 MP Md Mazibul Hoque, and Chauddagram municipality former mayor Md Mizanur Rahman and Sreepur UP Chairman Shahjalal Majumder brought out processions on the highway.

The clash lasted till 12:30pm, creating traffic jams on both sides of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. However, traffic became normal by 3pm. 

Chauddagram Health Officer Golam Kibria Tipu said they treated 25 people. "One of them has been sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as his condition is critical."

"Traffic was closed for two hours. Due to this, there wasn't a long tailback," Highway Police Cumilla Region Superintendent Muhammad Rahmat Ullah told The Business Standard. 

Mizanur Rahman announced a rally on Tuesday to protest against alleged threats to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, Mazibul Haque also announced a rally on the same day, sparking the clash.

Subharanjan Chakma, Chauddagram police station officer-in-charge said that one group took permission to hold a rally and the other did not. "This would not have happened if they had held the meeting with permission."

"Three of our policemen were injured from thrown bricks. We will take legal action against the attackers," he said. 

He said that no cases have been filed so far in the incident.

During the clash, locals reported the presence of approximately 50 individuals, each armed with sticks and other locally made weapons, obstructing traffic movement on the highway and causing at least a 10km long tailback.

They were seen vandalising vehicles and harassing and intimidating passengers in an attempt to establish supremacy in the area.