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BNP holds human chains amid police obstructions
CLOCKWISE: BNP activists, heading for Khagrachhari Press Club to form a human chain, remain confined to the premises of their party office in the hill town due to obstruction by police, police try to seize the banner before forcing the pro-BNP lawyers to abandon their human chain programme in Court Point area of Sylhet city, Rangpur district unit of BNP forms a human chain in front of the press club in the town, police personnel stand in line at Shaheb Bazar in Rajshahi city after forcing BNP activists to leave the place where the latter had planned a human chain, and Thakurgaon district unit of BNP forms a human chain at an intersection as part of the party's countrywide programme yesterday demanding release of leaders and activists who were arrested during June 27 hartal.Photo: STAR
Main opposition BNP yesterday observed their countrywide human chain programme amid obstructions by police who charged batons and arrested several activists to foil the initiative. Intercepted by law enforcers, BNP leaders and activists made attempts to regroup and organise their programmes at different places, report our correspondents from districts. Activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir also tried to form human chains at a few places. BNP had announced the one-hour human chain programme from 11:00am across the country demanding release of the party men detained during the June 27 hartal. In port city Chittagong, BNP leaders and activists formed human chains at different places but the programmes lased only a few minutes as police obstructed them. There were also scuffles between BNP men and police while the latter resorted to baton charge at several places. “Police obstructed our human chains at different places including Muradpur, Rahatterpole, Sholoshahar Gate No 2, WASA, Ispahani, Dewanhat and EPZ intersections. Police also charged baton and held some BNP leaders and activists, who were released later,” said BNP Chittagong city unit President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. Later BNP men in smaller processions gathered in front of Chittagong city BNP office at Nasiman Bhaban where they formed a human chain and held a rally. Police dispersed BNP men as the activists led by BNP Joint Secretary Mizanur Rahman Minu tried to assemble at Shaheb Bazar in Rajshahi city at around 11:00am. Police also foiled BNP men's attempt to form a human chain at the same place in the afternoon. The BNP men later held a protest meeting at Bhuban Mohon Park. In Narayanganj, police clubbed opposition activists, injuring at least 10 people, as they tried to form a human chain. At Joypurhat, 10 people were injured as police charged batons on the opposition supporters, who brought out a procession protesting police interception to their forming a human chain. Eight people received minor injuries as police charged batons to disperse the BNP activists who tried to bring out a procession from the party's district unit office in Bogra town. In Jhenidah, BNP and Jamaat formed human chains separately as police prevented them from forming human chain together. Tension mounted in Magura town as two rival factions of district unit BNP formed human chains separately. District unit BNP president Kabir Murad-led faction formed a human chain from Judge Court area to Magura Town Hall Club while the 'rebel' group led by advocate Mokaddes Hossain and Nazimuddin Ahmed did the same on Mokhlesur Rahman road. Jessore police arrested 11 activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir as they tried to gather at Monihar Chattar in the town to stage demonstration. As BNP men led by former lawmaker Dilder Hossain Selim gathered in the Court Point area in Sylhet city as preparation to form a human chain at about 11:30am, police seized their banners and forced them to leave the area. Police also dispersed BNP men who gathered at the Central Shahid Minar area in the city the same time. Riot police charged baton to foil BNP's human chain programme at Station Road in Gaibandha town. However another programme of district BNP on Circular Road ended peacefully. Pro-BNP lawyers also held a human chain on the court compound. BNP and its front organisations formed human chains at Thakurgaon intersection and on Panchagarh-Tentulia road yesterday. Patuakhali district unit of BNP formed a human chain in front of District Bar Association office. In Manikganj, police prevented the district BNP leaders and workers from gathering on the court premises. Narail police also foiled BNP and Jamaat men's attempt to form a human chain.
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