BCL men not seen there

State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday brushed aside the involvement of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists in Wednesday's attack on BNP men at the capital's Bakshibazar.

Responding to a reporter's query about the BCL men first attacking the BNP activists, he said, "You are now calling everyone Chhatra League activists. But we haven't seen any Chhatra League activists there.

Those who were seen have no connection with the Chhatra League."

The home boss's comments came a day after BCL leaders and activists, brandishing firearms, iron rods and sticks, swooped on the BNP men who gathered around a makeshift court at Bakshibazar before BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia appeared there for hearing in two graft cases.

He, however, said an investigation was on to identify the attackers.

Kamal was talking to reporters at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after visiting Chhabi Biswas, a ruling party lawmaker from Netrakona-1, who was assaulted by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists in front of the DMCH on Wednesday.

He said, "The attack on our MP was carried out in a bid to kill him, as the BNP wanted to create a chaotic situation to obstruct the proceedings of Khaleda Zia's trial."

The BNP men's attempt was foiled by law enforcers' immediate interference, he added.

He also said that those involved in the attack on Chhabi would not be spared.

Meanwhile, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif also condemned the attack on Chhabi. Warning BNP leaders, he said they would face similar attacks if they failed to rein in their “goons”.

“There are many people in the country and they may carry out attacks on your vehicles. You may also face such attacks,” he said.

He also demanded immediate arrest of Chhabi's attackers.

Hanif was briefing reporters after an AL secretariat meeting at the party's Dhanmondi office yesterday.

Blaming the BNP for Wednesday's clash, Hanif claimed that Khaleda Zia had appeared before the court with her cadres.

Responding to a query, the AL leader defended BCL activists and said that BCL had a pre-scheduled programme at the DMCH on Wednesday and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists rather attacked the BCL men first.

Hanif, however, said if BCL activists were found involved in criminal activities, action would be taken against them.

The AL announced its programme to mark the first anniversary of the 10th parliamentary polls. The programme, to be observed across the country, includes a rally in the capital's Suhrawardy Udyan on January 5.

According to meeting sources, ruling party leaders discussed BNP's upcoming movement and decided on resisting opposition parties on the streets. They've already asked party leaders and activists to remain alert before and after January 5 and take to the streets, when necessary, to prevent BNP men from creating anarchy.