BNP-Police Clashes: At least 70 BNP leaders, activists injured in N’ganj
UNB, Dhaka :
At least 70 people were injured as the activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and police locked into clashes during the BNP’s dawn-to-dusk nationwide hartal in Narayanganj’s Araihazar and Press Club areas on Sunday.
Nazrul Islam Azad, assistant secretary of BNP’s international affairs, former joint convener of district BNP Mashukul Islam Azad, Araihazar upazila BNP president Yusuf Khan Bhuiyan, general secretary Jewel Ahmed were among the injured.
In support of BNP’s hartal, the leaders and activists of Araihazar Upazila BNP and its associate bodies led by BNP International Affairs Assistant Secretary Nazrul Islam Azad, brought out a procession on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway this morning.
When they took position in the Panchrukhi area of Dhaka-Sylhet highway and blocked the road by burning the tires, police charged with batons to disperse them, triggering the clash.
BNP leader Nazrul Islam Azad said police charged with batons and fired rubber bullets in our peaceful march, leaving at least 20 leaders and activists injured including me.
Additional Superintendent of Narayanganj Police (DB)Tariqul Islam said BNP men blocked Araihazar’s Dhaka-Sylhet highway and police tried to remove them from the road.
When BNP men threw bricks at the police, police dispersed them to bring the situation under control, the ASP added.
Meanwhile, a chase and counter chase between BNP activists and leaders took place in Narayanganj’s Press club area on Sunday morning.
The incident occurred in front of Narayanganj Press Club at around 8 am on Sunday.
Agitated leaders and activists of BNP vandalized cars and hurled brickbats along with arson on the streets. Meanwhile, police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.
Narayanganj Metropolitan BNP member secretary Abu Al Yusuf Khan Tipu claimed that “When we were observing hartal peacefully, the police fired on us, leaving our 50 leaders and activists injured.