Over 200 hurt in BNP-cops clash
More than 200 people were injured in clashes between law enforcers and BNP activists in Habiganj, Barguna, and Narayanganj yesterday.
The clashes took place when BNP activists took out road marches in the three districts, demanding the release of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia for treatment abroad.
In Habiganj, at least 150 people, including several policemen, were wounded at Shaestanagar in the town, reports UNB.
BNP leaders and activists from nine upazilas of the district started gathering near the house of GK Gaus, joint convener of district unit BNP and former municipal mayor, in the afternoon.
Around 5:00pm, the BNP activists began the march from the Shaestanagar Bazar area.
When they reached the Water Development Board office, police obstructed them. As the BNP men attempted to move forward, police responded with a baton charge, resulting in a clash.
During the chase and counter-chase, the BNP men threw brickbats at the police, who fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets.
Several cops, including OC Ajay Dev, were injured during the clash, Habiganj Police Station OC (Investigation) Badiuzzaman told UNB.
Meanwhile, GK Gaus said, "When we were going home after completing the march peacefully, police personnel, led by OC Ajay, attacked us, leaving 150 leaders and activists injured.
In Barguna, at least 50 BNP men were injured as police charged batons on a road march, local party leaders alleged.
Nazrul Islam Molla, former president of district unit BNP, said leaders and activists brought out the road march from their party office at noon as part of the party's fresh agitation programme.
As they were marching on different streets in town, police stopped them near the municipal market. When they tried to march forward, police charged batons, leaving at least 50 BNP men hurt, said Nazrul.
However, Barguna's Additional Superintendent of Police Abdul Halim denied the allegation.
He said, "BNP men got permission to hold a rally in front of their party office. But they violated the condition and started marching on the streets. That is why, police obstructed them. As a result, the scuffles took place."
In Narayanganj, some 25 people, including five police personnel, were injured in a clash between police and BNP activists.
Witnesses said several hundred BNP men started gathering near Kanchpur bridge on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway around 4:00pm. When the police personnel on duty there asked them to move away from the highway, an altercation ensued between them.
At one stage, police started charging batons. In response, BNP men hurled brickbats at police. Soon, the entire area turned into a battlefield with police firing tear gas shells and rubber bullets, witnesses added.
Golam Faruk, general secretary of Narayanganj district unit BNP, alleged that at least 20 party activists were injured in the clash. Three of them were hit by rubber bullets, he said.
Contacted, Chai Lau Marma, additional superintendent of Narayanganj police, said, "BNP men did not get permission from the police to hold the programme. Moreover, they tried to put a blockade on the highway.
"When police requested the BNP men to leave the highway, they became furious and started hurling brickbats, injuring five policemen."
Later, police charged batons, lobbed tear gas shells, and fired rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, the police officer added.
Meanwhile, in Manikganj, police stopped another BNP road march, but there were no reports of violence.
[Our correspondents in Patuakhali, Narayanganj, and Manikganj also contributed to this report.]
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