Cops among dozens hurt in Kishoreganj, Jhenaidah

Staff Reporter :
At least 42 people including 12 police members were injured in two separate clashes between Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Jubo League and BNP activists in Kishoreganj and Jhenaidah on Monday.
The clashes occurred when BNP men brought out processions to observe the ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’ in the two districts.
Our Kishoreganj correspondent reports, at least 32 people including 12 police members were injured as a clash broke out between police and BNP activists yesterday in the district.
The police fired rubber bullets and blank shots to bring the situation under control.
However, BNP men alleged that without any provocation police charged with batons and fired rubber bullets at them.
The incident occurred around 12:30pm in front of the BNP office in the district.
According to BNP activists, Jatiotabadi Jubo Dal (youth wing of BNP) activists were obstructed by police while coming with a procession to a rally organised to observe the National Revolution and Solidarity Day.
Mazharul Islam, General Secretary of district BNP, said that 18 activists of the party including Khasruzzaman Sharif, district Jubo Dal President, Mushtaq Ahmed, senior vice-president, Sazzad Hossain, acting general secretary, Abdullah Al Mamun, joint general secretary of district Chhatra Dal and Zubair, leader of district Swecchasebak Dal were injured.
Md Al-Amin Hossain, Additional Superintendent of Police (sadar circle), said 12 police members including Mohamamd Daud, Officer-in-Charge of Kishoreganj model police station, were injured by brick chips thrown by the BNP activists.
OC Mohamamd Daud said he had to tackle the activists as they were acting insolently from the procession and later threw brick bats at them. Police members later charged with batons on the activists and fired blank shots at them to take control of the situation, he said.
Police cordoned off BNP office, keeping several leaders locked inside, including him, until 3:00 pm, said BNP leader Mazharul Islam.
In Jhenaidah: A clash between activists of the BNP and the BCL, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, in Jhenaidah municipality on Monday left at least 10 people injured. A business establishment was also vandalised during the clash.
According to witnesses, the clash broke out at about noon at Old DC Court area as BCL activists brought out a procession from KC college to observe ‘Day of the killing of freedom fighters’ while BNP activists brought their procession from Press Club premises to observe ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’, said witnesses.
As the processions of the two parties reached near Old DC Court area, a chase and counter-chase between them started and they threw brick chips at each other.
As BCL activists stepped back and took position at Post office intersection in the city, BNP activists allegedly vandalised a Jubo League leader’s business establishment in the area.
Later, leaders and workers of Jubo League joined with BCL in the clash with brickbats, ramdas and sticks to resist BNP men, eyewitnesses said. Police later charged batons and dispersed the activists from the area and bring the situation under control, said Abul Bashar, Additional Superintendent of police (sadar circle).
Ashfaq Mahmud John, convener of district Jubo League said when BCL activists brought out a procession peacefully BNP activists attacked them, injuring several BCL activists. “They also vandalised my business establishment while police also attacked our activists,” he claimed.
However, advocate MA Mazid, president of district BNP, denied the allegation of vandalisation and said it was BCL activists who attacked first.
ASP Abul Bashar said additional police members have been deployed in the area to avert any further incident. Officer-in-Charge of Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station Sheikh Sohel Rana said none was arrested or any case filed in this regard.