At least two people were injured as two groups of Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders and activists clashed allegedly over distributing Trading Corporation of Bangladesh family cards at Puthia upazila in Rajshahi on Sunday.
The injured are Baneshwar union parishad member Rafiqul Islam, and Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal activist Mithun Abu Daud.
According to the witnesses and police, UP member Rafiqul, a follower of former upazila chairman Anowarul Islam Jumma, was approached by Mithun and his associates, followers of Puthia upazila BNP former vice-president Isfa Khairul Haq Shimul, seeking a share of the TSB family card.
As Rafiqul, also a member o the Baneswar union BNP, refused to share the TCB family cards, a group of people led by Mithun beat and stabbed Rafiqul in the Biraldaha Mazar area at 12:00pm, they said.
When followers of Jumma rushed to the spot, a clash ensued between the duo groups leaving Mithun injured.
As a rumour that UP member was hacked to death by Mithun and his men spread, local people blocked the Rajshahi鈥揘atore Highway, causing a two-kilometre traffic jam on both sides, with hundreds of vehicles stuck.
On information, a team of the army rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, allowing traffic to resume.
Both Rafiqul and Mithun, however, could not be reached for their comments as they were undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
Kabir Hossain, officer-in-charge of the Puthia police station, said that none lodged any complain with the police station till Sunday evening and they were investigating the incident.