Cops foil Gonojagoron Mancha rally, detain 7
Cops foil Gonojagoron Mancha rally, detain 7
Police dispersed the leaders and activists of Gonojagoron Mancha as they were trying to hold a rally at Shahbagh in the capital this afternoon.
The law enforcers also picked up seven activists from the spot, Sirajul Islam, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station, told The Daily Star.
Imran H Sarker, spokesperson of the mancha, told The Daily Star, that at least six of their activists were injured when police charged batons on them. They are receiving treatment at the nearby Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital, he added.
The OC said they did not allow the mancha activists to hold the rally as they had no permission.
However, Imran said they held all programmes except for some special occasions at the venue without any permission since the inception of the mancha on February 5, 2013.
The Gonojagoron Mancha organisers had planned the rally at Shahbagh intersection for 4:00pm protesting attack on its six activists in the same area by a group of youths last night.
Meanwhile, Muktijuddha Sangsad Santan Command, a platform of the children of freedom fighters, announced to hold a rally at the same place and time protesting a claim by Imran H Sarker, spokesperson of the mancha, that the command was responsible for the attack.
The police official said they did not allow the Gonojagoron Mancha activists to gather at Shahbagh intersection as they did not have prior permission.
He added the law enforcers also went into action to avoid possible clashes between the two organisations.
However, names of the detained activists could not be known immediately.
Earlier, at least six activists of Gonojagoron Mancha were injured in an attack by a group of youths at Shahbagh intersection last night.
Imran alleged that some activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jubo League had assaulted them, as they opposed the government's “decision to take money from Islami Bank” for the national anthem programme.
However, Mehedi Hasan, president of Muktijuddha Sangsad Santan Command, said a group of people led by Imran had attacked them that triggered a clash between the two sides.