A long-running rivalry between two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Ishwardi has increasingly turned violent, with clashes, gunfire, attacks and alleged displays of firearms raising concern among residents.Local BNP activists and residents say the conflict involves supporters of district BNP convenor Habibur Rahman Habib and joint secretary Zakaria Pintu. Alongside political influence, disputes over control of sand quarries, garment waste businesses, tenders, transport terminals and the drug trade are also alleged to have fuelled tensions.The latest incident occurred on Thursday night when Shariful Islam Sharif, convener of the Ishwardi upazila unit of Jubo Dal, was allegedly shot and hacked in an attempt on his life. He was seriously injured and is receiving treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.Following the attack, Sharif blamed Habibur Rahman Habib in a social media post. Habib, however, denied the allegation.The incident came days after allegations surfaced that former Chhatra Dal leader Zubayer Hossain Bappi had paraded through the town carrying a firearm on August 17. The allegation triggered protests, including a sit-in outside the police station and a subsequent attempt to besiege it, with protesters demanding his arrest.The latest violence is part of a wider pattern of political clashes in Ishwardi over the past two years. The killings of Sachin Biswas and Imran Hossain Sohag, along with several incidents of gunfire and clashes, have left a number of people injured.Local sources also said conflicts have repeatedly erupted over the control of sand quarries, waste businesses at the Ishwardi Export Processing Zone and government tenders.Mehedi Hasan, brother of Zakaria Pintu, alleged that the situation has deteriorated because law enforcement agencies have failed to take effective action against armed individuals.Habibur Rahman Habib rejected the allegations against him, saying he was being deliberately implicated in the incidents.Ishwardi Police Station officer-in-charge Ashadur Rahman said police patrols and surveillance had been strengthened to maintain law and order.Although political tensions remain high, he said the overall law and order situation across the upazila has not collapsed.The repeated allegations of armed political activity and clashes, however, have left many residents concerned about the prospect of further violence unless the authorities take effective measures to prevent the escalation of the rivalry.