Statement in JS against Naser "false", says Kulaura BNP president

Police have been deployed. The Officer-in-Charge of Kulaura thana said the situation is under control.

Shaheen and nine others were injured in the clash that took place as both the groups called protest meetings at the Choumuhana square at the same time, centring his (Shaheen) statement in parliament on Thursday.

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Shaheen was elected from Moulvibazar-2 in the 1996 parliamentary polls on a BNP ticket. He was president of Kulaura upazila BNP and vice-president of Moulvibazar district BNP. He was expelled from BNP because he contested the last parliamentary election as an independent candidate, defying a party decision. The Four Party Alliance had nominated a Jamaat-e-Islami leader there.

On Thursday, Shaheen rose on a point of order and told parliament that he was "under threat of BNP lawmaker from Moulvibazar-3 (Sadar)". He however did bot name Naser Rahman, elected from Moulvibazar-3.

In parliament, Shaheen also quoted Naser Rahman as saying in a public meeting that policy of Saifur Rahman, not of Kaleda Zia or Tarek Rahman, would be implemented in greater Sylhet.

His statement angered Naser's supporters, who attacked his Kulaura office Friday night.

Shaheen's supporters called a public meeting at Chaumuhana on Saturday to protest the attack. Clashes broke out as Naser's supporters also called a meeting at the same venue at the same time to protest Shaheen's statement.

Shaheen told this correspondent yesterday that he was attacked by supporter of Naser and that he was feeling insecure.

Prof Md Abdul Hannan, President of Kualaura BNP, told this correspondent that his party workers were attacked by Shaheen's supporters. He also said Shaheen made a "false statement" in parliament against district BNP President Naser Rahman.

After the last parliamentary polls, Shaheen tried to return to BNP but was refused, sources said. He met Saifur Rahman at Moulvibazar circuit house last week also. But, district BNP President Naser Rahman in a press statement said there is no scope for Shaheen to return to BNP.