The local administration imposed Section 144 for two days in the Godagari upazila of Rajshahi after two BNP factions clashed centring the party's founding anniversary celebrations.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Faisal Ahmed issued the notification on Tuesday afternoon, banning all public gatherings in the municipality from 5:00pm on Tuesday to 12:00am on Wednesday.
Party activists said that a group led by retired Major General Sharif Uddin, an adviser to the BNP chairperson, planned to hold a programme at Mahishal Bari in Kakonhat municipality on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Godagari upazila BNP announced a separate event in front of the party office on Wednesday afternoon, with nomination seeker Advocate Sultan Islam Tarek scheduled to attend.
Witnesses said the clash occurred Tuesday afternoon AS Sharif's supporters blocked preparations at the upazila BNP office.
Later, police arrived and controlled the situation.
Abdus Salam Shawal, president of Godagari upazila BNP, said that they had received prior permission from administration to celebrate its anniversary.
"Sharif Uddin's supporters unfairly deterred our program, although two venues are almost 1 kilometre apart," he added.
Ziaul Haque Sorkar, president of Kakonhat municipality BNP, said, "Now that Section 144 has been imposed, we will decide on the program after discussing with our leader (Sharif)."
OC Ruhul Amin of Godagari Model Police Station said that police reached the spot after receiving reports of the clash.
UNO Faisal Ahmed said both groups had informed the administration about their events in advance. "As they clashed before the events, Section 144 has now been imposed to maintain law and order."
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