At least 25 people were injured, most of them hit by pellets, in a clash between supporters of two of the ruling Awami League's (AL) lawmakers who brought out processions in the capital's Mirpur 1 denouncing Jamaat-e-Islami's hartal yesterday.

The clash ensued between men loyal to Aslamul Haque Aslam of Dhaka 14 constituency and Sabina Akter Tuhin of reserved seat 35 for women around 11:30am in front of Mukta Bangla Shopping Complex, said police.

Witnesses stated of hearing gunshots and that the opponents chased and pelted each other with brick chips.

A car and a shop were reportedly vandalised during the clash, which created panic among pedestrians and forced traders to shut business outlets for several hours. None has been arrested.

A trader of a market opposite the complex, preferring anonymity, claimed that a shotgun bullet struck his shop and that though a good number of police were deployed marking the hartal, they "did not take due steps".

Another man with pellets lodged in the face being shifted from one room to another at the hospital. The fighting started over holding of yesterday's anti-hartal processions, in front of Mukta Bangla Shopping Complex. Photos: Star

Shah Ali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Anwar Hossain said police dispersed the warring groups and took the situation under control firing several rounds in the air. 

The injured claimed that the clash was over rivalry centring the recent formation of AL's ward and thana committees, the "important" posts in which were bagged by Sabina's supporters.

But locals said it was over running extortion rackets at the Gabtoli terminal and the area's footpaths.

Fourteen of the injured who took treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital claimed they were Aslamul's supporters. One was admitted while the rest left after taking treatment.

They alleged that their procession was approaching the Mirpur-1 intersection when "Sabina's cadres" swooped on them with sticks, batons and firearms.

Denying this, one of Sabina's supporters, SM Hanif, also president of AL's Mirpur Thana unit, claimed that a motorcade of Aslam's supporters went through their procession, injuring at least 10 persons.

"As some of us beat them up...they later carried out an attack," he said.

Contacted, Aslamul only expressed surprise at how AL men could attack each other. Sabina's phone was found busy during repeated attempts for comments.