BNP’S Protest Programme: Police, AL men foil rallies in 3 districts
BNP and Awami League activists clashed in three districts on the second day of the opposition party's countrywide rallies yesterday.
Meanwhile in Khulna, police sued 1,200-1,300 unnamed people and 48 BNP activists over Friday's clash between police and activists near the Khulna Press Club.
BNP leaders in Jashore, where it intends to hold a rally on May 27, said at least 141 activists were arrested in recent days.
The party yesterday held a rally in the capital's Motijheel area, from where at least seven of its leaders were arrested.
As part of its countrywide anti-government demonstrations, the BNP held rallies in 21 organisational districts yesterday. It held rallies in 28 other districts on Friday, and the rest of its organisational district will be covered next Friday and Saturday.
The party has been demonstrating for the next general election under a caretaker government.
In Patuakhali town, at least 30 people were injured yesterday as police used firearms and teargas shells during a clash between the AL and BNP activists.
The clash broke out before BNP activists could begin a pre-scheduled rally in front of the local BNP office on College Road around 10:00am, reports our correspondent from Patuakhali.
"We were trying to organise a peaceful event, but they [AL activists] began assaulting us," said Snenangshu Sarkar Kutti, member secretary of Patuakhali BNP.
But Kazi Alamgir Hossain, Patuakhali AL president, said, "Chhatra Dal attacked a procession led by Chhatra League President Saiful Islam at Sabuj Bagh intersection."
An additional number of policemen were deployed in front of the BNP office to prevent further violence, said Saidul Islam, superintendent of police in the district
Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mainul Hassan said several cops were injured when the activists attacked law enforcers during the AL-BNP clash.
Cases will soon be filed against those who attacked law enforcers, said an officer.
Speaking at a press conference in the town, BNP Vice-Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo said the next general election will not be free and fair without a caretaker government.
In Rajbari, police detained 20 BNP leaders and activists after a clash among the activists of the BNP, AL, and police members around 12:30pm.
The opposition party said police and the ruling party men had attacked marching BNP activists in Singar Mor area.
BNP leader Ali Nawaz Mahmud Khayyum said he along with activists was walking to the party programme at Azadi Moydan around 12:30pm when ruling party men intercepted them and then police baton-charged them.
Sahadat Hossain, officer-in-charge of Rajbari Sadar Police Station, said police were trying to calm the situation when BNP activists attacked them, forcing officers to use firearms.
Police detained 20 people from the scene, he added.
In Netrakona, BNP leaders said police and ruling party activists did not let them hold the rally.
At Mymensingh Press Club, Anwarul Haq, convener of Netrakona BNP, said at least 63 activists were arrested.
The activists first tried to gather at Banwapara bus stop, but AL leaders stopped them, he said, adding that the opposition activists then went to Madanpur Mazar area to hold the rally, but the AL men assaulted them.
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