Charges pressed against 104 BNP men in Jhalakathi

Charges have been pressed against 104 BNP men in the case for obstructing police from performing their duties at Rajapur upazila headquarters in the district on June 22.
Sub-Inspector (SI) Arifur Rahman, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court, Jhalakathi, in the evening.
At least four police personnel were injured in a clash with BNP men at the upazila headquarters at around 5:00pm on June 22. The clash ensued as police intercepted a BNP procession at Rajapur Jail Road.
BNP men also attacked Rajapur Police Station and vandalised its windows and a motorbike during an hour-long clash, said Anwar Hossen Khan, ASP (circle) of Jhalakathi district.
Only two police personnel were staying at the station during the attack, he added.
As part of a countrywide demonstration, Rajapur upazila unit of the BNP organised a rally at the party office at bypass intersection of the upazila headquarters, said Sub-inspector Rafiqul Islam of Rajapur Police Station. They were only allowed to hold a rally, not the procession, Rafiqul said.
He added that all of a sudden a procession of around 6,000 people came out of the BNP office led by Nasim Akon, president of Rajapur upazila unit of Jubo Dal.
When the procession reached Rajapur Jail road, police put up barricades, said SI Azizul, adding that Nasim had threatened him to leave the place.
Being refused, the BNP men attacked the police personnel, he added. They threw brick bats at police, said ASP Anwar, and police responded with rubber bullets.
Police filed two cases--one for obstructing them from performing duties and the other for vandalising the police station--the same day.