Procession in city protesting Modi’s visit

Agitators brought out a procession following Jumma prayers at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital's Paltan area yesterday protesting the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi is expected to come to Bangladesh on March 26 to attend the celebrations of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of independence of Bangladesh.

Witnesses said at least a thousand protesters staged demonstrations from 1:45pm till 2:30pm in the area. They brought out a procession from the mosque which marched through Kakrail, Bijoynagar and ended at Purana Paltan area.

During the procession, agitators were heard chanting slogans against Modi's upcoming visit.

Before the procession, the agitators held a short rally on the steps of the national mosque. During the rally, protestors chased camerapersons of two private television channels -- Ekattor Television and DBC News -- terming them atheists and Indian supporters.

The crew members of the channels left the spot and were not seen in the area since.

This correspondent saw a huge number of police personnel deployed near the mosque since yesterday morning to avoid any untoward incident.

When agitators brought out a procession, police personnel at first were seen trying to stop them, but eventually had to let them go ahead with the procession as they started throwing bricks soon after a barricade was put up.

The agitators had no banner with them but talking with journalists they claimed they are supporters of various Islamic parties.

Syed Nurul Islam, deputy commissioner of Motijheel Division Police, said no untoward incidents took place during the demo and the situation was under control.

"The agitators threw some bricks primarily but no one was hurt," he added.