Shahbagh tense at Hefajat approach

Police chase away Hefajat men through Ramna Park Saturday afternoon. Photo courtesy: Prothom Alo

Tension spread in Shahbagh and its adjacent areas as some activists of Hefajat-e Islam attempted to go near the Gonojagoron Mancha at Shahbagh intersection after their rally at Motijheel.

Police detained six Hefajat activists at Ramna Park on charge of attempt to attack Gonojagoron Mancha activists, said Shah Alam, officer-in-charge of Ramna Police Station.

He failed to detail on the arrestees’ identities immediately.

According to witnesses, a group of Hefajat men tried to move towards the Gonojagoron Mancha at Shahbagh intersection around 5:00pm.

A clash erupted between police and the Hefajat men as the law enforcers halted them near the Shishu Park.

Several private satellite television channels reported that being resisted by the law enforcers, the Hefajat men attacked policemen there.

As the news reached the Gonojagoron Mancha, dozens of Shahbagh youths, carrying bamboo and wooden sticks, rushed there to resist the Hefajat men.

The Hefajat men later entered the Ramna Park.

Hundreds of youths, who returned to Shahbagh intersection Friday after a long interval in the demonstration, chanted anti-Jamaat slogans demanding capital punishment to the war criminals.

Additional forces of police and Rapid Action Battalion were deployed at Shahbagh to maintain law and order.

In another incident, Hefajat men hurled brick chips on the law enforcers in Minto Road area.

The law enforcers fired several rounds of teargas canisters to disperse the attackers.