At least twenty-five people were injured in a clash between followers of the Commissioner of Ward no 33 in the capital's Bangshal and residents of the ward's Sweeper Colony who are fighting eviction by the city corporation on Wednesday.
The injured are being treated at different hospitals including Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
Sweeper Shubodas, who was injured in the clash, said that the situation in the colony was already tense as they are at risk of eviction.
"In addition, the threat of the commissioner's men made us more tense," Shubodas said. "This morning, the South City Corporation handed over the keys to 72 new rooms in our colony. After the programme, hundreds of supporters of the commissioner tried to enter and we obstructed them."
“When we obstructed them, they threw bricks at us, leaving several injured," he added.
Of the injured, some were identified as Shubhodas, 36, Karan, 22, Niranjan, 65, Niloy Das, 18, Ripon Das, 25, Ajay Kumar, 22, Veeru Das, 44, Sakal Das, 24, Manoj Kumar, 30, and Sameer Das, 35.
One of the supporters of Commissioner Haji Awal Hossain said they along with the commissioner went to the colony to discuss with the sweepers this morning. Seeing them, the sweepers asked them to leave the colony.
"At one point, they threw bricks from the top of the building, leaving at least 10 of us injured," he said.
Later, four of them were sent to Dhaka Medical. They are Maqbul Hossain, 50, former Jubo League organizing secretary of ward number 33, and members of Asad Gate AL unit Md Nayem, 40, Md Rubel, 38 and Rubel Gazi, 35.
Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH police camp, said about 20-25 people received treatment at Dhaka Medical over the clash at Bangshal sweeper colony.
The matter was informed to Bangshal police station, he added.
