BNP Programme: Violence on second day as well

The BNP's programmes yesterday were peaceful in Dhaka and Khulna but there was violence in Chattogram and Dinajpur.

There were clashes between the BNP and Awami League supporters, and vandalism of vehicles and party offices of both parties.

BNP leaders later said the party would no longer tolerate "political persecution" and would come up with a fitting response.

The BNP also said it would hold mourning rallies across the country at 11:00am today to protest the killing of an activist during their march in Laxmipur on Tuesday.

Awami League leaders in Chattogram alleged that BNP activists, on their way back from their road march, vandalised the election camp of the Awami League nominee for Chattogram-10 by-polls.

"My activists were sitting inside the camp. It was 5:30 in the afternoon. A group of BNP activists attacked and vandalised my election camp …," said AL candidate Mohiuddin Bachchu, adding, "One of my female activists had head injuries."

AL leaders also alleged that BNP activists hurled brick chunks at AL activists and vandalised a few vehicles.

In protest, Chhatra League and Jubo League activists blocked the Wasa intersection in the city, blocking traffic.

Ruling party supporters tearing down banners in front of the BNP office in retaliation. Photo: Rajib Raihan

From the intersection area, the pro-ruling party men, about an hour after the BNP's march had ended, went to the office of Chattogram city unit BNP on Kazir Dewri-Nur Ahmed Road and vandalised it.

Witnesses said the pro-ruling party men vandalised furniture and tore posters and banners.

There were no BNP men inside the office at the time.

Denying the allegation of BNP activists attacking the election camp, the party's Chattogram city unit convener Shahadat Hossain said their road march did not go through the Wasa intersection.

"Our programme ended at Dewan Hat intersection. Why will our activists go back through the Wasa intersection?"

Police, however, claimed that there was no vandalism at the BNP office and that Chhatra League activists only took position in front of the office and tore some banners and posters.

Deputy Commissioner (South) Mostafizur Rahman of Chattogram Metropolitan Police said, "The road march ended peacefully. A group of BNP men threw stones at the election camp from Akhtaruzzaman Flyover, triggering a tense situation. Later, police rushed to the Wasa intersection area and dispersed the groups.

"… Some Awami League and Chhatra League men took position in front of the BNP office. There was no incident of vandalism inside the party office," claimed the DC.

During a press conference in the port city last night, AL leaders alleged that the election camp was attacked at the instruction of BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. They claimed that Khasru had passed by the area before the attack.

They announced a protest programme in the city for this afternoon.

In Dinajpur, allegedly Chhatra League activists of Haji Danesh Science and Technology University attacked a column of vehicles carrying BNP activists to their rally around 1:30pm.

This sparked a clash in front of the campus, suspending traffic on the Dinajpur-Rangpur highway.

About 20 people were wounded and at least seven vehicles were vandalised, locals and police said.

Dinajpur Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tanvirul Islam said policemen deployed in the area brought the situation under control.

Addressing the rally, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the government to step down immediately and hand over power to a non-partisan neutral administration to oversee the next election.

In Dhaka, BNP leaders and activists walked around 22km in the scorching heat to complete the march from Abdullahpur in Uttara to Jatrabari.

Speaking at a rally before the march, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas alleged that the Awami League cadres attacked BNP's peaceful programme in different parts of the country on Tuesday, killing a BNP activist and injuring many others.

"Inshallah, we will give a befitting reply to the repressions you [AL] carried out on us yesterday [Tuesday] across the country," he said.

He said his party has been on a peaceful movement to restore democracy and the rights of the people. "We have to realise our right to freedom of expression and our right to vote."

Thousands of leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies joined the march for the second day in the city yesterday. On Tuesday, the BNP marched from Gabtoi to Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka.