In the evening, police said the situation was under control. A large number of policemen were deployed in the town.

Witnesses and administration sources said the faction led by minister without portfolio and local lawmaker Altaf Hossain Chowdhury peacefully observed the party's founding day on Friday through different programmes including processions and rallies. It also staged a showdown.

At about 10-30 Friday night, a group of party men attacked the house of Mashiur Rahman Khan, district Jubo Dal president, a follower of Altaf Hossain, in Charpara area of the town. The faction blamed their rivals for the attack and called a half-day hartal in the town for yesterday (Saturday), protesting it.

On other hand, the rival BNP faction led by district BNP secretary Snehangshu Sarkar Kutty and Patuakhali municipality chairman Mustak Ahmed Pinu planned to observe party's the founding day Saturday.

Pro-hartal Altaf faction stopped roads in the morning yesterday.

At about 10: 30 am yesterday, processions of Kutty-Pinu faction came under attack allegedly by activists of rival Altaf-led faction in front of BNP office and Kaler Pukur Par areas of the town.

Clashes there spilled over to different areas in the town.

A party office was ransacked and at least 13 people including

including Sumon, belonging to Pinu-Kutty faction and Mashiur Khan, district Jubo Dal president belonging to Altaf group were injured.

As police intercepted the procession of Pinu-Kutty group near the Children Park, they changed the route and gathered in front of Pourasva premises at about 1 pm.

Activists of the Pinu-Kutty faction also alleged that after blocking the road, Altaf loyalists attacked them at different points in the town including the launch terminal to bar them from joining party programmes.

Police are trying their best to maintain law and order and the situation is still under control, Patuakhali Police Superintendent Shafiqur Rahman said.