BNP-police clash in Bogura: At least seven suffer shotgun pellet wounds

At least seven people suffered shotgun pellet wounds as police opened fire during a clash between law enforcers and BNP men who were participating in a road march in Bogura this afternoon, the party claimed.

They also said at least 40 people suffered injuries in the clash.

The incident took place around 12:30pm when the BNP men, bringing out a procession from Banani, reached the Yakubia School area, witnesses said.

Several police personnel were also injured as BNP men threw brick chunks at the law enforcers.

Ali Ajgar Talukdar Hena, general secretary of Bogura BNP, said police obstructed their procession as it reached Yakubia school area and at one stage, they fired tear gas canisters and shotguns at the BNP men. 

At least forty leaders and activists were injured in the attack. Of them, seven to 10 suffered pellet wounds, he said, adding police detained many leaders and activists. 

Abdur Rashid, an additional superintendent of police in Bogura, said BNP was supposed to go to their office in Nawabbari area through Ekuria and Jaleshwarytola, but they tried to go to Satmatha area instead. 

The BNP men attacked police with sticks and threw brick chunks at the law enforcers, leaving five to six police personnel injured. To bring the situation under control, police were forced to fire shotgun pellets and tear gas canisters in the air, he said.    

Police besieged the party office after around 300-400 leaders and activists gathered there, witnesses said.