Hundreds of BNP men, 18 policemen injured in clashes in 3 districts
Hundreds of BNP leaders and activists and 18 policemen were injured in clashes between police and BNP men in Manikganj, Netrakona, and Rangpur districts today (September 1, 2022).
In Manikganj, hundreds of BNP leaders and seven policemen were injured in a clash between the police and BNP men at Khalpar in the town around 11 am.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The clash took place when the BNP men brought out a procession towards district BNP office on occasion of its44th founding anniversary.
Manikganj district BNP President Afroza Khan Rita said that hundreds of BNP leaders and activists injured and acting president of BNP Sadar upazila unit Fazlul Haque was shot when the police charged baton, fired tear shells and rubber bullets on our peaceful procession.
She also said police arrested Fazlul and two others.
She alleged that leaders and activists of Chhatra League took position at different points of the town since this morning to bar the BNP programme.
Regarding BNP's allegation of police barring their programme, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station Abdur Rauf Sarkar said, "We have barred the BNP's procession because they did not have permission. They threw bricks and so we chased them. Seven of the policemen, including myself, were injured by them. Constable Shaheen's condition is very serious."
About shooting of arrested BNP leader Fazlul Haque, the OC said, "Fazlul was not shot. He may have been injured by baton charges or brickbats. He along with the two others arrested have been sent to the hospital for treatment."
In Netrakona, Dr Md Anwarul Haque, convener of the district BNP, said as part of the central programme to celebrate the party's 44th founding anniversary, leaders and activists and its front organisations started gathering at Chhoto Bazar's party office this morning.
Suddenly police came to the scene and asked them to leave the roads that led to altercations between police and party men. They locked into chase and counter chases and at one stage, police fired rubber bullets and teargas shells to disperse the party men.
Some 42 BNP men were injured, including 12 with bullet wounds, during the police action, Anwarul said. Five people who were shot have been admitted to Netrakona General Hospital, he added.
When, contacted, Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) of Netrakona Model Police Station Md Sohel Rana said police rushed to the spot to ease the traffic jam, but BNP men started throwing brick bats at them. So, police fired some 40 rubber bullets and teargas shells to bring the situation under control, the OC added.
The eight injured policemen were also treated at Netrakona General Hospital, reports our Mymensingh correspondent.
Police detained eight BNP men in this connection, he said.
In Rangpur, police put bar in a rally organised by BNP men for the party's 44th founding anniversary. When the rally was heading towards Jahaj Company intersection, police barred them and they locked into altercation that left 10 people including three policemen injured.
BNP's Rangpur city unit Member Secretary Samsuzzaman Samu alleged that police barred their rally and charged batons on them, leaving seven injured.
Rangpur BNP city unit convener and member secretary were among the injured, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.
Rangpur Kotwali Police Station Inspector (investigation) Hossain Ali said that BNP locked into altercation when they were trying to control the law-and-order situation.
Three police personnel were injured in the incident, the inspector said.
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