55 injured in Brahmanbaria, Habiganj clashes

At least 55 people including 28 policemen were injured in separate clashes between BNP activists and lawmen in Brahmanbaria and Sylhet today.
In Brahmanbaria, 35 people including 20 policemen were injured as BNP activists clashed with the lawmen in Brahmanbaria town.
The clash ensued around 4:00pm when police intercepted a procession brought out by the leaders and activists of the BNP and its front organisations Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal at Kalibari intersection.
The agitators exploded several dozens of crude bombs during the clash which continued for around four hours intermittently, police and locals said.  
They also hurled brick chips at the law enforcers.
The law enforcers used robber bullets and tear gas to disperse the opposition men, reports our Brahmanbaria correspondent.
Akul Chandra Biswas, officer-in-charge of Brahmanbaria Model Police Station, told The Daily Star Online that 20 policemen including Inspector Saidur Rahman and Traffic Inspector Bayzid were injured.
BNP’s Brahmanbaria unit general secretary Zahurul Haque claimed that at least 15 of their activists were injured in the clash.
Three of the injured were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, he added.
In Habiganj, more than 20 people including eight policemen were injured during a clash between the activists of pro-BNP organisations—Chhatra Dal and Juba Dal—and law enforcers in Habiganj.
Two of the cops have been hospitalised.
Eight activists have been picked up in this connection, reports our Sylhet correspondent.
The clash ensued as the law enforcers prevented the BNP men from bringing out a procession in support of their rally on January 5 from Muslim Quarter area of Habiganj town.
At one stage, police charged batons and fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the Chhatra Dal and Juba Dal activists, while they also threw brickbats at them, said Nazim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Habiganj Sadar Police Station.
The agitators however damaged several buildings, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and human haulers, the police officer added.