Jamaat-Shibir men clash with police in city

Staff Reporter :
The activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatra Shibir locked in a clash with the police as they tried to bring out a procession without permission at Malibagh area in the capital Dhaka on Friday afternoon.
Witnesses said that the Jamaat- Shibir men brought out a procession from Abul Hotel at about 2:00pm and when it reached Malibagh intersection, the police intercepted it that led to a clash.
They said that the police charged baton and lobbed teargas shells on Jamaat- Shibir activists who also threw brickbats on the police.
They said that several Jamaat-Shibir men and the police were injured during the clash.
“The Jamaat men tried to hold a mass procession without police permission in Malibagh. A clash ensued as police had asked the Jamaat men not to go through with the procession, but they had paid no heed to the law enforcers,” Shahen Shah Mahmud, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna Division), said.
“The Jamaat-Shibir men hurled bricks at police. The law enforcers then fired tear gas to disperse them and bring the situation under control,” he added. “Later, some people were detained from the spot and brought to the concerned police station.”
Meanwhile, around 33 like-minded political parties, including the BNP, brought out the mass procession in the capital to press home their 10-point charter of demands, including the resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament, transfer of power to a non-partisan caretaker government and formation of a new election commission.
From the procession, BNP and other like-minded political parties announced a mass sit-in programme to be held in all divisional cities from 10 am to 2 pm on 11 January next year.
Amid opposition’s mass procession, Awami League and its associate bodies, on the other hand, were also present at different points in the capital including Gulistan, Farmgate, Gabtoli and Mirpur.
As part of the pre-scheduled programme, BNP brought out the mass rally from their party headquarters at
Naya Paltan and marched through Mogbazar with the participation of thousands of leaders and workers chanting slogans demanding resignation of the government.
Before commencing the mass rally from Naya Paltan, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain demanded the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and all other leaders and workers behind bars and urged the countrymen to be united to oust the government through mass upsurge.
Thanking the like-minded political parties for waging simultaneous movement, he said, “All the political parties have to work jointly to restore democracy. I am grateful to all of you for participating in the mass procession ignoring all obstructions.”
About the announcement of the fresh programme, he said, “We would hold a sit-in programme from 10am to 2pm on 11 January in a bid to realise our 10-point demands. I urge all to make the programme a success.”
Before the commencement of the mass rally, thousands of BNP leaders and workers gathered on the streets before the party office, which led to the obstruction of traffic movement from the Nightingale to Dainik Bangla intersections.
Leaders and activists of other parties including Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Kallyan Party, National Democratic Party and Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal joined the procession with their respective party banners.
Along with the BNP, the nine-party alliance ‘Gonotontro Moncho’ in a separate protest programme in front of Jatiya Press Club announced a mass sit-in programme in all divisional cities including the capital as part of the simultaneous movement to overthrow the government.
“We will hold a mass protest rally on 11 January demanding the release of Khaleda Zia and other political prisoners and the withdrawal of manufactured cases,” Bhasani Anusari Parishad Chairman Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu announced.
Leaders and activists of Gono Odhikar Parishad, Nagarik Oikya, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab), Ganosamhati Andolan, Biplobi Workers Party, Bhasani Anusari Parishad and Rashtra Sanskar Andolan joined the rally.
The convener of Bhasani Anusari Parishad and also a leader of the Moncho Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Babul announced the sit-in programme from their rally.
“They want to destroy the country by taking away the rights of its citizens. The citizens of Bangladesh will not allow this to happen,” Junaid Saki, Chief Coordinator of Gono Sanghati Andolan.
 Later the rally of Gonotontro Moncho marched toward Dainik Bangla Intersection and returned to the Press Club again.
Earlier on December 24, BNP held a mass procession programme in all divisional cities and district headquarters except the capital as Awami League had their National Council on the same date.
BNP sources said that they would intensify their movement with the like-minded political parties to oust the government.