Theatre activists attacked by 'BNP men'

At least ten theatre activists were injured in an attack allegedly by BNP leaders and activists at Sarada Hall in Sylhet city's Chandni Ghat area yesterday.

Rajat Kanti Gupta, president of Sommilito Natya Parishad Sylhet, theatre organisers Bibhash Shyam Purkayastha, Abdul Quayyim Mukul, Humayun Kabir, Nahid Parvez Babu and others were injured in the attack.

Witnesses said that the theatre activists were gathered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the parishad and the reopening of Sarada Hall.

A group of BNP leaders and activists, who were on their way to attend the party's rally at Alia Madrasa ground, entered the hall while it was raining and passed derogatory comments to female activists, they said.

When the parishad members protested, the BNP leaders and activists attacked the activists and vandalised chairs of the hall, they added.

Rajat Kanti Gupta said, "We will file a case. We demand the attackers to be identified through the CCTV footage and punished."

Later in the evening, around a hundred theatre activists brought out a procession demanding justice.

Being informed of the attack, Ariful Haque Choudhury, mayor of Sylhet City Corporation and a member of BNP's advisory board, visited the spot. He urged police to take necessary action against the attackers.

Mohammad Ali Mahmud, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said, "We will take necessary steps after they file a complaint."