AL men face to face with pro-BNP lawyers

Source: Anisur Rahman

Law enforcers using water cannon to foil a procession of pro-BNP lawyers on the Supreme Court premises while they tried to head towards Nayapaltan to join 'March for Democracy' on Sunday

Tension gripped the Supreme Court premises as a group of pro-Awami League activists entered the court premises forcibly opening the main gate of the court where pro-BNP lawyers were demonstrating since morning.

The activists of the two main archrival political parties took position on the court premises, which apparently had the possibility of a clash at the court ground.

With sticks and national flags in their hands, the pro-Awami League activists entered the Supreme Court ground around 3:20pm and chased the lawyers loyal to opposition.

Soon after the pro-AL activists entered the SC premises, a motorcycle was set on fire.

But it is not clear who torched the motorbike.  

At present, pro-BNP lawyers were hurling brick chips at the ruling activists from the rooftop of the SC building.

In reply, pro-AL men were also throwing stones targeting the lawyers loyal to the opposition.

Detail of the present situation could not be known immediately.

Earlier, law enforcers used water cannon to foil a procession of pro-BNP lawyers on the Supreme Court premises while they tried to head towards Nayapaltan to join today's 'March for Democracy' programme.

Two pro-BNP SC lawyers -- Abu Zafar Manik and Nazrul Islam Pappu -- received minor injuries as they tried to escape police action, our correspondent reports from the venue.

Over 200 pro-BNP lawyers led by Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, a senior pro-BNP lawyer and adviser to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, brought out a procession from the court premises around 11:15am.

As the processionists tried to leave the SC premises for Nayapaltan, the law enforcers dispersed the opposition men using water cannon at the court premise.

The law enforcers, who took position outside the SC premises, allegedly threw two sound grenades when the lawyers tried to break the main collapsible gate of the SC.

Resisted, the lawyers took position there and chanted slogans against the government and police action.

Many of them were holding the national flags in their hands.