20 hurt as police club BNP procession

Police intercept a procession of BNP activists in Patuakhali town, right, stick wielding BNP men try to proceed, defying police barricade in Gaibandha town, during the party's countrywide programme yesterday in protest against arrest of several of their leaders including Jubo Dal President Moazzem Hossain Alal. PHOTO: STAR/ FOCUS BANGLA

At least 20 activists of BNP and its front organisations were injured as police charged baton on their procession in the district town yesterday.
The injured include MA Rob Mia, secretary of district unit BNP, SM Rob, president of district unit Krishak Dal, Jasmin Zafor, secretary of Mohila Dal, Anwar Hossain Sikder, president of JSD, Nizam Uddin, president of Kamlapur BNP and Jubo Dal activists Jewel Fakir, Sujon, Biplob, Ataur Rahman and Billal.
Party sources said, district unit of BNP and its front organisations including Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) brought out the procession from in front of Titas cinema hall at about 10:30am, protesting the arrest of Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, president of central Jubo Dal.
Police obstructed the procession and charged baton on the protesters when they tried to break a barricade put up by the law enforcers.
Later, a protest meeting was held at Battala on Sher-E-Bangla road where BNP leaders Wahid Sarwar Kalam and Mojibur Rahman Toton addressed, among others.
On October 3, Detective Branch of police arrested Alal in Dhaka on charge of damaging and torching vehicles in front of the BNP's central office.
In Bogra, district BNP president VP Saiful told a rally followed by a procession yesterday noon that the party will not take part in election under Awami League government, reports a correspondent.
People have already shown red card to AL government and so it has no right to stay in power, he said.
If the government tries to hold election, people will resist such 'fake' election, he told a large gathering in the town.
District BNP secretary Jainal Abedin Chan, Ali Ajgar Hena, and Mir Shahe Alam also spoke at the programme held to protest 'anti-democratic' activities by the government.