AL-BNP chaos mars festivity

The ruling Awami League and BNP activists carried out vandalism and clashed over Victory Day celebrations in different areas yesterday.

In Lalmonirhat, AL and BNP men chased each other during a rally on Station Road in the town.

Earlier, the AL people vandalised the Railway Sramik Dal office on the road. In retaliation, BNP activists vandalised the nearby Railway Sramik League office, said witnesses.

However, no causality was reported.

At Chittagong University, two Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists were injured in an attack launched by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men.

The two -- Imtiaz Iqram, joint secretary, and Moinuddin, publication secretary of the university unit of the pro-BNP JCD -- along with other activists went to the memorial to place a wreath.

AL-backed BCL men snatched and tore the wreath, said witnesses.

In Pirojpur, two factions of the ruling party chased each other to show off supremacy in Kawkhali upazila, hampering a Victory Day programme.

Witnesses said the incident happened when the two groups had an altercation over setting a banner.

In Mymensingh, the ruling party activists chased the local mayor over the absence of Bangabandhu's picture and “Joy Bangla” slogan in a banner made to celebrate Victory Day in Muktagachha upazila.

They ransacked the dais, foiling a scheduled discussion and cultural programme.

Later, they brought out a protest procession in the upazila headquarters demanding punishment for the mayor, Shahidul Islam Shahid, who is also the secretary of Muktagachha municipality unit of BNP.

Johirul Haque Johir, secretary of the municipality unit of AL, said angry people chased the mayor.

The mayor said it was an “unexpected incident”. However, he denied the incident of chasing.