Tafsir Mehfil Defying Sec 144
30 including 10 lawmen hurt in Rajshahi clash
At least 30 people, including 10 law enforcers, were injured during a clash with a group of people who tried to hold a tafsir mehfil (religious function) at Solua Degree College ground in Charghat upazila, defying Section 144 yesterday afternoon.
The unruly people used iron rods, bamboo sticks and threw brick chips on police and Rab personnel during the clash that continued for an hour. Law enforcers had to fire at least 30 tear gas shells to disperse them.
Abdur Razzak, an on-duty magistrate, said six policemen and four Rab members were injured during the clash.
Charghat upazila administration had earlier imposed Section 144 at Salua Degree College ground where war crime suspect and Jamaat-e Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi's son Rafik Bin Sayeedi was scheduled to hold a tafsir mehfil at around 4:00pm.
Five magistrates, led by Additional District Magistrate Dewan M Abdus Samad, and around 350 police and Rab personel were deployed in and around the area following a threat to defy Section 144.
One Lutfar Rahman, identifying himself as a social worker, called the tafsirul Quran mehfil at the college ground without taking prior permission from the local administration, Additional District Magistrate Dewan M Abdus Samad told newsmen. Section 144 was imposed on the field and its adjoining areas for nine hours from 1:00pm, he said.
Charghat upazila BNP President Abu Sayeed Chand was scheduled to chair the mehfil.
“According to intelligence report, BNP and Jamaat-e Islami leaders called the meeting in the name of tafsirul Quran mehfil. Section 144 was imposed, apprehending violence centring the mehfil,” said Hamidur Rashid, officer-in-charge of Charghat Police Station.
Upazila BNP President Abu Sayeed Chand said they took permission from the college authorities to hold tafsir mehfil on their playground.
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