A regional event intended to promote democratic transparency descended into chaos on Wednesday as supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami clashed violently in Sherpur. The confrontation, which broke out during a manifesto-reading session for the Sherpur-3 (Sreebardi-Jhenaigati) constituency, resulted in at least 30 injuries and the total abandonment of the scheduled proceedings.
The incident occurred at the Jhenaigati Upazila Mini Stadium, where the local administration had invited all contesting candidates to present their visions for the upcoming election. Tensions flared just moments before the official start, reportedly triggered by a dispute over seating arrangements in the front rows.
Escalation and Property Damage
According to eyewitnesses, a verbal altercation between activists quickly escalated into a full-scale riot. Proponents of both parties engaged in pitched battles, using broken furniture and sticks as weapons. The venue, prepared by the Upazila administration, was left in ruins; over a hundred chairs were smashed, and several motorcycles parked nearby were heavily damaged.
Local residents and volunteers rushed the injured to Jhenaigati Upazila Health Complex and Sherpur District Sadar Hospital for emergency treatment. Law enforcement agencies, including the police and elements of the Bangladesh Army, were deployed to the stadium to restore order and disperse the warring factions.
Conflicting Accounts of the Riot
Both parties have engaged in a “war of words” on social media, each accusing the other of orchestrating the violence to sabotage the event.
| Stakeholder | Reported Casualties | Allegation |
| BNP (Mahmudul Haque Rubel) | Multiple injuries | Claims Jamaat planned the chaos to disrupt their momentum. |
| Jamaat-e-Islami (Nuruzzaman Badal) | 15 activists injured | Asserts the attack was a premeditated ambush by BNP loyalists. |
| Local Administration | 30 total injured | Attributes the riot to an “unfortunate dispute” over seating. |
Administrative Response
The Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Assistant Returning Officer, Ashraful Alam Russel, expressed deep regret over the disruption. “We organised this to benefit the electorate, but an unexpected seating dispute led to this volatility,” he stated, adding that a formal report has been submitted to higher authorities.
The Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance), Md. Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, confirmed that while the situation is now under control due to the joint efforts of the police and the military, no formal cases have yet been filed. Legal action is expected once specific complaints are lodged.