56 hurt in clashes among AL, BNP and cops in Natore, Khulna, Rajshahi

02 April 2023

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News Desk :
At least 56 people were injured in tripartite clashes among Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) ruling party Awami League (AL) and its two front organizations Chhatra League and Jubo League and police in Natore, Khulna, Rajshahi and Pirojpur on Saturday.
In Natore, at least 30 people were injured in a clash between Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and ruling party Awami League (AL) activists that erupted during a sit-in program of BNP in Natore, reports UNB.
District BNP Convenor Shahidul Islam alleged that Awami League activists attacked them to obstruct their peaceful program.
BNP's pre-scheduled sit-in program started in front of the district party office at 2:30pm.
When its Organizing Secretary Ruhul Kuddus Talukdar Dulu, started to deliver his speech, some Awami League activists reached the spot with their peace rally and the clash broke out.
BNP's stage was allegedly vandalized during the clash and they threw brickbats at each other.
Later, police brought the situation under control.
Following the clash, Awami League held a peace rally in front of the district's Government Girls' School.
Natore unit Awami League General Secretary Shariful Islam Ramzan claimed that many of their leaders and workers were injured.
Inspector of Natore Sadar police station Abdul Kalam said AL and BNP activists attacked each other and police brought the situation under control.
As part of the ongoing simultaneous movement, the BNP, its associate bodies and like-minded parties observed a two-hour sit-in protest in all divisional cities and district towns on Saturday to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
In Khulna, twelve people were injured in clash between police and supporters of BNP on KD Ghosh Road in Khulna city on Saturday.
BNP leaders alleged that they were holding a sit-in protest at its Khulna city office on KD Ghosh Road at about 2.00pm to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
"Police barred a procession in front of Khulna Police Station when it was heading towards the programme venue and baton charged them. A chase and counter chase between police and BNP men were occurred at that time," they said.
BNP vice chairman Nitai Roy Chowdhury said 12 leaders and activists of the party were injured by the attack of police.
He demanded the release of five BNP men, who were detained by police.
Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police (South) Md. Tajul Islam BNP supporters suddenly threw brickbats at the law enforcers, leaving several cops injured.
Police fired tear gas shells at that time to bring the situation under control, he added.
Police have detained five activists of BNP during the clash.
In Rajshahi, at least 10 people were injured after police officials baton charged a sit-in programme of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Rajshahi.
Police dispersed the BNP gathering staged at Sagarpara intersection of the metropolitan city around 3pm on Saturday, said BNP Joint Secretary Harunur Rashid.
At that time, BNP Rajshahi district Convenor Abu Syed Chand along with hundred others were apprehended from the scene, said BNP chairperson's Adviser Mizanur Rahman Minu.
Protesting the police attack, Harunur Rashid said the law enforcers unjustly baton charged their peaceful sit-in programme.
"Initially we came under police attack in Sagarpara and later in Rani Bazar area as we moved toward Bhubanmohon Park in the city," he said.
Boalia Police Station's Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Sohrawardy Hossain said, "The BNP was only allowed to stage their programme in Bhubanmohan Park. But they were trying to create public disturbance by staging protests in different places starting from Sagarpara."
Denying BNP's claim of injuring their party men, he said seven people were arrested from the streets for causing public disturbance.
In Pirojpur, leaders and activists of Chhatra League and Jubo League, two front organisations of the ruling party, attacked BNP leaders and activists in Pirojpur on Saturday, during a sit-in by the opposition party.
The incident took place in front of the district BNP office around noon, said Bilkis Jahan Shireen, organizing secretary of the BNP central committee, reports UNB.
Four BNP men, including Bhandaria Upazila BNP convener Sohel Manjur Sumon, sustained injuries, she added. Sumon's car was vandalized in the attack,
Denying the attack, Iftekhar Mahmud Sajal, general secretary of Pirojpur District Chhatra League, said they were returning from 'Jatka preservation week' programme this noon. When they reached the post office road area, they saw that BNP-Chhatra Dal activists had blocked the road. "We just drove the BNP men away to ease public suffering," he said.
"We don't know anything about car vandalism," he categorically said.
Mohammad Saidur Rahman, superintendent of Pirojpur police, said there was a heated argument between the leaders and workers of the local BNP and Chhatra League. At this time, someone threw brickbats and broke the glass of a car.
Police brought the situation under control, he said, adding that additional police forces have been deployed in the area.