More than 20 people were injured in a clash between the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP activists at Paikpara Bazar area under Sadar upazila in Sirajganj district on Saturday morning.

The clash broke out when the main opposition BNP brought out their pre-announced union-level march.

During the clash, 12 motorcycles of BNP activists were torched by the local Awami League activists.

Besides, minimum 10 shops were vandalised and goods along with cash were looted, local traders alleged.

Witnesses said local BNP leaders and activists were assembled at Paikpara area at about 10:00am prior to bring out their union-level march. At that time, some attackers appeared suddenly at the spot and set fire to 12 motorcycles, vandalised minimum 10 shops, looted goods and cash from those. Then the attackers fled away.

Receiving information, police went to the spot. Later, Awami League leaders including Sirajganj-2 (Sadar-Kamarkhand) MP of Awami League Dr Habib-e-Millat Munna, Sadar Upazila chairman Riaz Uddin, Sirajganj district Awami League's former president valiant freedom-fighter Bimol Kumar Das visited the spot. At that time, the local MP demanded the arrest of attackers and condemned the attack.

At one stage, both groups locked into a clash while police charged batons to bring the situation under control, he said.

Former district AL president valiant freedom-fighter Bimol Kumar Das alleged that BNP has created anarchy in the name of foot march. He also sought steps from the local administration to stop the "misdeeds" of BNP.

Kalia Haripur union chairman Md Abdus Sabur alleged that the masked BNP hoodlums set fire to 12 motorcycles and 10 shops after vandalising and looting those. He also demanded arrest of the culprits.

Md Humayun Kabir, Sadar police station officer-in-charge, said brickbats were thrown from a BNP procession when a preparatory meeting of the AL was going on over the afternoon's peace rally in Paikpara Bazar around 10:00am.

A total of 12 motorbikes were damaged and three others set on fire, the OC said, adding that six people were detained from the spot in this connection.

A case was registered in this connection, he said, adding that legal process is going on to arrest the culprits.

On the other hand, District BNP general secretary Saidur Rahman Bacchu said, "Awami League leaders and workers swooped on us during our peaceful programme. At that time, the attackers vandalised house of Kalia Haripur BNP president Anisur Rahman Anis and looted cattles and other valuables from there."

He also alleged that Awami League workers themselves committed the vandalism, looting and torching. "Now they are putting blames on us."

Kalia Haripur BNP union organising secretary Md Monirul Islam Monir said that brickbats were thrown on their procession from the AL's meeting.