Cops foil Islami Andolon's bid to bring out march without permission

Policemen light small fires and wash their eyes with water to ward off the effects of tear gas, canisters of which they had fired just minutes ago to disperse Islami Andolon Bangladesh men trying to block off the Paltan road before the Baitul Mukarram mosque in the capital yesterday protesting a bar on them from holding a rally today to agitate against former post and telecommunications minister Abdul Latif Siddique's remarks on Hajj, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and Tablighi Jamaat. Photo: Banglar Chokh

Law enforcers yesterday fired tear gas canisters and charged baton to disperse several hundred Islami Andolon Bangladesh men trying to bring out a procession blocking the capital's Paltan road before the Baitul Mukarram mosque, causing six of the Islamist organisation to fall sick.

The agitators were protesting the bar on them from holding a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan today demanding capital punishment for former post and telecommunications minister Abdul Latif Siddique for his recent remarks on Hajj, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Tablighi Jamaat.

The six were treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and local clinics.

However, the organisation's leaders, at a hurriedly called press conference at their Purana Paltan head office, claimed over 100 activists were injured while another 100 had been arrested.

They also announced holding rallies at Chittagong's Laldighi Maidan on October 31, Khulna on November 14 and in the capital on December 26.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Motijheel Division) Ashrafuzzaman told The Daily Star that there had been no arrests and the organisation had no permission to organise political programmes in that area.