40 hurt in clashes between BNP and BCL, cops

At least 40 people were hurt in two separate clashes involving BNP men and police; and BNP men and Chhatra League men in Kishoreganj and Jhenidah yesterday.

In Kishoreganj, at least 31 people were injured after police clashed with BNP men over a procession marking the "National Revolution and Solidarity Day".

According to the BNP, 20 of their party activists suffered injuries as police charged truncheons and fired rubber bullets at the procession in front of the party office in the district.

The district BNP General Secretary Mazharul Islam said police obstructed the procession and at one stage charged truncheons.

Md Daud, officer-in-charge of Kishoreganj Model Police Station, said, "BNP men blocked the road with the procession and vandalised vehicles. When we tried to control the situation they threw brick chunks and injured 11 policemen."

"We fired 10-12 shots in the air to control the situation," he said.

Police arrested two people over the incident, the OC said.

In Jhenidah, at least 10 people were injured in a clash between Bangladesh Chhatra League and BNP men in the Old DC Court area.

According to witnesses, BCL activists brought out a procession from KC College to observe the "Day of the Killing of Freedom Fighters" while BNP activists brought out their procession from the Press Club premises to observe the "National Revolution and Solidarity Day".

As the two processions reached the Old DC Court area, a clash erupted. They threw brick chunks at each other and 10 men were injured.

The district unit BNP President MA Majid alleged that BCL men attacked BNP's procession without any provocation and later attacked the party office.

The district unit BCL General Secretary Al Imran claimed that the clash took place when BCL men protested the "derogatory chants" about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina coming from BNP's the procession.

Jhenidah Sadar Police Station OC Sheikh Sohel Rana said additional law enforcers were deployed in the town to avoid further violence.

[Our correspondents from Mymensingh and Jhenidah contributed to the report]