13 hurt as BDR, villagers clash in Panchagarh

BDR sources and witnesses said the clash erupted when a BDR team went to recover smuggled Indian goods from a shop belonging to Hossain and Shariful of the village.

During the raid, the shop owners had an altercation with the BDR members. At one stage, villagers attacked the BDR personnel with lethal weapons and brickbats.

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As the situation worsened, Atwari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Arun Kumar Malaker rushed to the spot with police forces. BDR men fired two gunshots to disperse the crowd.

Later, local traders held a protest meeting in front of the UNO office slating BDR firing. They alleged that their shops were looted during the clash.