40 injured as Manna fans clash with cops

Police charge truncheons on Manna fans who gathered in front of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation gate in the city yesterday to have a glimpse of the film actor's body. Photo: STAR

At least 40 people, including six policemen, were injured in a series of clashes between police and fans of departed film star Manna near Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) in Tejgaon yesterday.
The actor, who rose to dizzying heights of popularity, was taken to his hometown of Tangail in the afternoon and laid to rest.
In the capital, several thousand people, mostly youths, started thronging the BFDC premises since morning to have a last glimpse of their beloved actor. Many of them came from neighbouring districts of Dhaka.
The clashes ensued when police baton-charged the crowd as they tried to get inside BFDC compound. During the three hours long clashes, police also fired teargas shells while the fans pelted the law enforcers with brickbats.
Vehicular traffic on the busy road stretching from Hotel Sonargaon to Tongi Diversion Road remained stopped from 9:00am to 1:00pm. The rowdy mob damaged eight vehicles on Tongi Diversion Road during the melee.
Earlier, several thousand people also swarmed on the Central Shaheed Minar premises in the morning as the body was supposed to be taken there after the janaza at BFDC. Such a huge gathering prompted police to seal all roads leading to the place.
Witnesses said Manna's body was taken to the hub of the Bangla film industry at about 10:30am by an ambulance.
At the sight of the ambulance, thousands of fans in an emotional outburst began pushing and shoving to get inside the BFDC to pay the star their last respect.
Many of the admirers climbed up trees around the BFDC confines to catch a glimpse of the actor.
After the namaj-e-janaza, police escorted the ambulance carrying the coffin out of the capital for burial in his village home at Elenga in Tangail.
Veteran actor Razzak, FDC Managing Director ANM Badrul Amin, film directors Kazi Hayat, Chashi Nazrul Islam, Nasiruddin Dilu, actors Riaz, Zahid Hassan and Afzal Hossain attended the janaza, among others.
Manna suffered a heart attack and died at United Hospital in Gulshan on Sunday.
MANNA LAID TO REST
Our Tangail Correspondent adds: Manna was buried beside his father's grave at Elenga under Kalihati upazila in Tangail yesterday afternoon.
Earlier, a namaj-e-janaza was held at the Central Eidgaon in Tangail town at 3:30pm.
Thousands of admires and others gathered to pay tribute to the actor there.
His body was then taken to his village home where he was buried at 5:15pm.
Another namaj-e-janaja was held at Elenga High School ground.
Born in 1964 in Tangail, Manna acted in around 300 movies during his career.