The electoral atmosphere in Gafargaon, Mymensingh, turned violent on Wednesday afternoon as supporters of the official Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate and an independent “rebel” contender engaged in a series of fierce street battles. The clashes, which erupted immediately after the formal allocation of electoral symbols, left at least five people injured and resulted in the arson of a political office, forcing shops to shutter and residents to flee for safety.
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A Town Under Siege
The trouble began near the Islamia Government High School in the municipal town. Supporters of the BNP’s official nominee, Md. Akteruzzaman Bachchu, had gathered to celebrate his receipt of the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol. At the same time, a procession led by AB Siddique Rahman, a disgruntled district BNP leader contesting independently under the ‘Duck’ symbol, arrived at the same location.
The proximity of the two rival factions triggered an immediate confrontation. What began as verbal sparring quickly escalated into a violent “chase and counter-chase,” with both sides reportedly using sticks and projectiles. The violence reached a peak later that evening when a local office belonging to a pro-BNP student leader was vandalised and set on fire near Gafargaon railway station.
Gafargaon Election Conflict: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
| Date of Incident | Wednesday, 21 January 2026 |
| Key Rivalries | Official BNP vs. BNP Independent Rebel |
| Injured Parties | 5 (Severely injured: Abdullah and Sohag) |
| Property Damage | Arson and vandalism at Railway Station area office |
| Security Forces | Police and Bangladesh Army (Joint Command) |
| Current Atmosphere | Tense; market closures reported |
Allegations of Firepower and Explosives
The two political camps have offered starkly different versions of the day’s events. Md. Akteruzzaman Bachchu accused the independent faction of using lethal means to disrupt his gathering. “My activists were ambushed; the opposition used firearms and detonated crude cocktails to create a reign of terror,” Bachchu alleged.
Conversely, AB Siddique Rahman claimed his supporters were the victims of a targeted assault. “We were conducting a peaceful victory march when we were fired upon without warning near the police station,” he countered. The split within the local BNP ranks has created a volatile “party-versus-party” dynamic that local authorities are struggling to contain.
Joint Force Intervention
The severity of the unrest prompted an immediate deployment of the Joint Forces, comprising the police and the military. Security personnel were forced to use batons to disperse the combatants and prevent further arson.
Md. Abdul Al Mamun, the Additional Superintendent of Police for Mymensingh, confirmed that while the situation is currently “under control,” the town remains under heavy surveillance. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), NM Abdullah Al Mamun, has since directed joint patrols to maintain a 24-hour presence in the municipality to ensure the safety of the general public as the official campaign window officially opens today.