Cops foil BNP procession, 15 injured

Staff Reporter :
Police on Wednesday attacked the main opposition party-BNP’s procession in Barishal leaving at least 15 people injured.

Witnesses said, police suddenly started baton-charging in a procession brought out by the BNP in support of the ongoing non-cooperation movement in Barishal city.

Police arrested eight people, including Barishal south district unit BNP Convener Abul Hossain Khan after dispersing the procession.

Abu Naser Mohammad Rahmatullah, a Member of the party’s National Executive Committee, said party leaders and activists brought out a protest march in support of the non-cooperation movement from the party office on Sadar Road.

“Leaders were distributing leaflets calling upon the people to boycott the January 7 election from the procession,” said Abu Naser Rahmatullah.
“When the protest march reached Ashwin Kumar Hall in the city, police started baton-charging to disperse the procession without any provocations,” he said.

Abul Kalam Shahin, Member Secretary of Barishal south district BNP, accused police of charging batons and dragging the leaders and activists into police vans without any reason.

At that time, 15/20 leaders and activists of the party, including the party’s Central Assistant Organising Secretary, Akon Kuddusur Rahman, were injured at the police baton charge, said Shahin.

ATM Anisul Haque, Officer-in-Charge of Barishal Kotwali Model Police Station, however, denied the claims of police action.

“We dispersed the BNP leaders and activists who gathered without any prior permission on the spot as they blocked the road and disrupted traffic movement. The police did not act violently,” said OC Anisul. “We have arrested several people from the spot. The details will be provided later,” he said.