Upcoming Nat’l Polls: Awami League, BNP face to face on the streets
Both BNP and Awami League are trying to take control over the thoroughfares in Chattogram city ahead of the next parliamentary elections.
Centring BNP's programmes, several clashes occurred in the district between BNP and AL activists, and BNP activists and police recently.
BNP thinks that the ruling AL government are provoking them to get involved in violence.
BNP claimed that at least 20 of its activists were injured as AL activists attacked their rally in Bakalia on August 28.
In another incident, some 25 BNP activists were injured in police action during their procession in Banshkhali on August 26.
However, AL and police said BNP clashed with AL in Bakalia and with police in Banshkhali. In Bakalia, some 15 AL activists were injured and a ward councillor's house was vandalised.
BNP claimed that at least 20 of its activists were injured as AL activists attacked their rally in Bakalia on August 28. In another incident, some 25 BNP activists were injured in police action during their procession in Banshkhali on August 26. However, AL and police said BNP clashed with AL in Bakalia and with police in Banshkhali. In Bakalia, some 15 AL activists were injured and a ward councillor's house was vandalised.
Police said seven of their members were also injured in BNP's attack in Banshkhali incident.
"We are organising peaceful programmes protesting price hike of essentials, fuel and transport fare," said Dr Shahadat Hossain, convener of the city unit of BNP.
"The government and ruling party are in fear as they have noticed that common people are participating in our programmes," he said.
BNP Chattogram south district unit convener Abu Sufian echoed him.
"Police and AL men are provoking us into clashes so that they can sue us. But we will not fall into the trap," he said.
AL sources said its central organising secretary (Chattogram division) Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan, during a meeting on September 3 with the leaders of 15 thana committees in the port city, instructed them on how to combat BNP's movement.
City AL Vice President Khorshed Alam Sujan said, "If BNP holds peaceful programmes, we have no problem. But if it wants to create anarchy, it is our duty as conscious citizens to cooperate with law enforcers to resist them."
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