At least 23 people, including three policemen, were injured when two factions of BNP clashed in Faridpur's Boalmari upazila around 4:00pm today during an event marking November 7 Revolution and Solidarity Day.

The violence erupted near Wapda intersection, where supporters of Khondakar Nasirul Islam, vice president of Krishak Dal, and Shamsuddin Mia, former joint secretary of Boalmari BNP, confronted each other. Both are seeking the party's nomination for Faridpur-1, though the nomination has been postponed.

Witnesses said, around 3:00pm, Shamsuddin's supporters gathered at Wapda Mor, while Nasirul's group assembled near Kazi Sirajul Islam Mohila College Mor. Both groups reportedly carried bamboo sticks. At 4:00pm, the groups held a march and came face to face in front of Boalmari municipality. Both sides started hurling brickbats and a clash erupted. Outnumbered, Shamsuddin's supporters retreated to Harun Shopping Complex.

Officials including Boalmari UNO Tanvir Hasan Chowdhury, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Shibbir Ahmed, and Boalmari Police Station OC Mahmudul Hasan tried to intervene but were attacked, allegedly by Nasirul's supporters.

Nasirul's group then set fire to at least ten motorbikes and vandalised Shamsuddin's office on the ground floor of the complex. Nearby shops in the vicinity were also extensively damaged.

Police took cover during the attack, which lasted from 5:00pm to 5:30pm. A fire engine that went to douse the blaze was also attacked.

Both factions blamed each other.

Shamsuddin said Awami League activists joined Nasirul's group in attacking his supporters and office, injuring 15 people and damaging portraits of Khaleda Zia.

Nasirul said he was in Madhukhali when his supporters were attacked, including one injured by a machete. He claimed bystanders retaliated after bricks were thrown from the shopping complex.

Around 5:30pm, army personnel arrived and brought the situation under control. The fire service returned to extinguish the flames, but tensions remained high between the two groups.

OC Mahmudul Hasan confirmed that three police officers were injured and said the situation was now stable.