50 injured as police baton-charge Jamaat procession in Rangpur

News Desk :
At least 50 people were injured after police baton-charged a procession of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in Rangpur on Saturday.
Jamaat brought out the procession on Saturday noon, demanding the release of its leaders and activists from prison and establishment of a caretaker government for the next national election.
Rangpur Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner Utpal Kumar Roy said, “Jamaat brought out a procession without permission to disrupt law and order in the metropolitan area.
“We dispersed them peacefully and arrested eight people from the spot. Our arrest operation is going on.”

In a statement sent to the media, Jamaat said police baton-charged its peaceful march without any provocation, leaving 50 of the party’s leaders and activists injured.
According to the statement, they formally communicated in writing to the metropolitan police commissioner on Thursday about the procession. “However, the police launched the attack to implement the government’s agenda.”

Demanding the release of the detained leaders and activists, the statement also said permission is not required from the police to carry out a movement in a democratic state.
Meanwhile, police have detained eight Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami activists in Rangpur as they brought out

an impromptu procession in the City Bazar area on Saturday afternoon.
In the afternoon, leaders and activists of Jamaat started impromptu protest marches from the Sadar Hospital Mosque, City Bazaar Mosque, and a broken mosque next to the City Bazaar.
Police intervened as the protest arrived in front of the city corporation office and detained eight Jamaat men, he added.

“The sudden protest was an attempt by Jamaat to create unrest, but the police were successful in disrupting the march,” said the additional deputy commissioner.
“A city-wide operation is ongoing to apprehend other individuals involved in the march,” he added.
However, he was unable to immediately provide the names of the detained individuals.