Two persons were killed and at least thirty injured in a gunfight between two groups of workers at Chand Textile Mills at Shaymapur in the city yesterday morning.

Traffic movement on the Dhaka-NarayanganJ road came to a halt for mere than an hour as they traded gunshots, exploded bombs and clashed with lethal weapons for about one and a half hours, police and witnesses said. Many of the injured were passers-by.

The dead were identified as Nasir, 40, reportedly a former employee of the mill, and Salahuddin. 23, a pedestrian.

Of the injured, Kamal Srakar. a security guard of the mill and three pedestrians -Rashid. 35. Nizam. 21. Anis, 13 - were admitted to Dhaka ’Medical College Hospital (DMCH). The rest were admitted tr Narayanganj General Host.Itai, National Hospital in the city and other clinics, hospital sources added.

Witnesses said the clash was sequel to a long drawn rivalry between the two groups of mill workers, one led by Shahadat and the other by Lutfar. Three months ago. the Lutfar group bagged almost all the posts in a CBA election and drove some men of Shahadat group out of the mill, sources there said. Both the groups claim to be backed by ruling Awami League.

The mill authorities and local people alleged that police went to the spot about two hours though they were informed soon after the clash broke out. The mill authorities said, apprehending trouble, they repeatedly requested police authorities earlier to deploy force on the mill premises'. But no step was taken.

Senior police officials of DMP Eastern Zone were not available for comment.

Witnesses said, over 50 people belonging to Shahadat group, equipped with firearms, sharp weapons, crackers, iron rods and lathis, arrived near the factory boats through the Buriganga nver at around 9 am.

They got inside the premises through the backside'of the mill and ransacked the administrative section, machine room and employees union office. They also attacked the workers' colony.

Men of Lutfar group resisted them and w?re locked in a chase and counter chase. Both the groups used firearms.

A bullet hit Salahuddin in the chest. He was rushed to the DMCH in a critical condition where he died at about 11:30 am. Shadidullah came to his uncle's residence at RK Mission Roy from Munsiganj two days ago.

Nasir, reportedly a member of Shahadat group, was bullethit in the head. He died also at the DMCH.

The clash ended after the Shahadat group left the scene.

Police were deployed at the mill after the clash. None was arrested and no case was filed ' till filing of this report last night.