At least 40 hurt as BNP men, police clash in Khulna

At least 40 people were injured in a clash between police and BNP men in Khulna this afternoon.

The clash took place near Khulna Press Club and adjoining areas around 4:00pm when BNP men were gathering there to join a party programme.

BNP leaders said they were holding a rally peacefully at the press club premises to press home their 10-point demand, which includes the resignation of the government.

Witnesses said the clash broke out when a procession of BNP supporters was heading to the rally. Police charged truncheons on the BNP men, fired tear gas shells and shotguns to disperse them.

The BNP men hurled brick chunks at the law enforcers, they said.

Shafiqul Islam Tuhin, member secretary of Khulna City unit BNP, alleged that police carried out an unprovoked attacked on their party men with bullets and tear gas to foil their programme.

He said more than 30 of their men were injured in the clash, and 10 were detained by police.

They were being treated at different hospital, they said.

Tajul Islam, deputy commissioner (south) of Khulna Metropolitan Police, said there was a pre-scheduled programme of BNP in the banquet hall inside the press club.

But a group of leaders and activists sat down in front of the press club, blocking traffic. When police asked them to leave, they attacked the law enforcers, who fired teargas shells and shotguns in self defence, he said.

Eleven police personnel were injured so far, he said.