Ruling party men attack BNP-led human chain
11 hurt in front of Khulna Hardboard Mills
Eleven people belonging to BNP, Sramik Dal and Chhatra Dal (JCD) were injured as ruling party activists attacked a human chain in front of hardboard mill yesterday morning.
The injured include president of Khalishpur thana unit BNP advocate Fazle Halim Liton, assistant organising secretary of Chhatra Dal central committee Sheikh Saadi, convenor of Khulna district unit Mahila Dal KM Faridi, BNP activists Masum, Khokon and Barek.
The ruling party men launched the attack when Khulna regional committee of Sramik Dal was observing a 'peaceful' human chain programme to express its solidarity with the ongoing agitation by Khulna Hardboard Mills Workers Union.
Workers of Khulna Hardboard Mills also joined human chain as they have been agitating since last one week to press home their three-point demand.
The demands are -- payment of arrear wages of last June and July, Eid bonus and adequate allocation of fund required to resume production and buy raw materials.
According to police and eyewitnesses, a group of unruly activists of AL, Sramik League and Chhatra League (BCL) equiped with iron rods and sticks went to the venue of human chain progrmme and attacked the participants without any provocation.
President of Harboard Mill Workers' Union Md Abdul Hannan said that over 50 ruling party men led by president of Khalishpur thana unit Awami League Morshed Ahmed Moni and general secretary Ziaul Alam Khokon all of a sudden swooped on the participants.
The attackers used clubs, brick chips and iron rods. While going away, they also damaged three roadside shops and two motorbikes, police and eyewitnesses said.
At 12:30pm general secretary of Khulna City BNP Sheikh Moniruzzaman Moni issued a press statement condemning the attack on their 'peaceful' human chain. He demanded stern action against the attackers and their immediate arrest.
On the other hand, president of Khalishpur thana unit Awami League, denying BNP allegation, said that the incident was a sequel to intra-party squabbles in Khalishpur thana unit of Sramik Dal and BNP.
Security measures have been stepped up at Khalishpur industrial belt following the incident.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments