AL-BNP clash leaves 45 injured in Kishoreganj

Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj  :
At least 45 people were injured in a clash between activists of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Ashtagram Haor upazila of Kishoreganj on Saturday afternoon.

During the clash, 7-8 motorcycles were vandalised and the police arrested three people from the spot for their involvement in the clash.
The BNP activists gathered at Zero-point to hold a pre-scheduled protest programme against the arrest of Titumir Hossain Sohel, convener of Ashtagram Upazila Chhatra Dal.

In line with the programme, leaders and activists of the upazila BNP and its associate organizations gathered at Zero point under the leadership of Advocate Fazlur Rahman, a former Member of Parliament and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s adviser, on Saturday morning.
As they marched towards the BNP office for the rally, a procession of Chhatra League and Jubo League came to the spot without any notice.
The BNP leaders and activists claimed that the BCL and Jubo League leaders and activists attacked them without any provocation in presence of the police.
The ruling party men mercilessly beat up the BNP men leaving many of them injured. The injured included Upazila BNP General Secretary Zakir Hossain Mukul, Upazila Swechchhasebok Dal Secretary Zubair Hashan Yamin, Upazila Jubo Dal Convener Anwar Hossain Anna, Upazila BNP member Saiful Haque Shaheen, Swechhasebok Dal member Saiful Islam, Rokan Mia,

Upazila Chhatra Dal former convener Jabed, Deoghar Union BNP General Secretary Abul Munsoor and Bangalpara Union Krishak Dal General Secretary Raees Uddin.
Advocate Fazlur Rahman said, “our leaders and activists were marching peacefully. During this time, the leaders and activists of BCL and Jubo League attacked us with local weapons like ramdao, hockey sticks and iron rods. Police were inactive during the clash. At least 30 of our activists were injured in the attack. Out of this 15 have received treatment at the Upazila Health Complex.”

When asked about the attack, General Secretary of Ashtagram Upazila Awami League Shahidul Islam James said that BNP’s pre-announced programme was at Zero point.

“We didn’t go there, but our Chhatra League-Youth leaders and activists were marching in Ashtagram Bazar area. On the occasion of former Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid’s scheduled visit to Ashtagram, we arranged a procession to congratulate him. But the BNP men entered the Ashtagram market with sticks. Then the leaders and activists of BNP and their organizations swooped on the Chhatra League procession. At least 10-15 members of the BCL were injured in the incident. When news of the attack spread, more of our activists came to the spot. And as a result, a chase ensued. The Chhatra League did not attack.”

Officer-in-Charge (OC) in Ashtagram Police Station Murshed Zaman said that brickbats were thrown at Chhatra League and Jubo League activists from the BNP procession, which led to a conflict between the two groups.