BNP men, police clash in Natore
Sec 144 in Meherpur
At least 10 people including five policemen were injured as BNP processionists threw brickbats at police prompting the later to charge batons in Natore town yesterday.
On the same day, local administration imposed Section 144 in Gangni of Meherpur district disrupting BNP's protest programme in the upazila.
Natore and Meherpur demonstrations were part of BNP's countrywide programme to protest against, what the party dubbed, repression against journalists.
A correspondent from Natore reports: BNP alleged that its district unit president and ex-deputy minister Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu was among the leaders and workers clubbed by police.
Dulu said police charged baton on him and BNP leaders and workers without any provocation.
On the other hand, ASP (Circle) of Police Apel Mahmud said, "Every body has right to participate in meetings and processions in democratic way. Police asked the processionists to follow a specific route to avoid traffic jam and indiscipline. But as BNP men tried to enter Station Bazar defying police request, the law enforcers obstructed them."
He said at least five policemen were injured by brickbats thrown by BNP activists. Police also picked up nine BNP workers in connection with the incident.
Our Kushtia correspondent adds: As the local unit of BNP decided to stage protest on Gangni High School premises at about 11:00am yesterday, police rushed to the spot ahead of the programme and urged the BNP leaders and activists to leave the place saying that the upazila administration had imposed Section 144 banning any public gathering in the area.
Officer-in-charge of Gangni police station Motiar Rahman told the journalists that the administration imposed the ban as Upazila Awami Jubo League called another programme at the same venue.
BNP lawmaker from Meherpur-2 (Gangni) Amjad Hossain, also Meherpur district BNP president, however, held the upazila administration responsible for foiling the programme.
“We have no information regarding any counter programme by the local Awami Jubo League today (Sunday),” Amjad said.
Awami League sources said Jubo League of Gangni upazila unit called a rally in the upazila yesterday.
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