40 injured as BNP men clash with cops in Gaibandha
At least 40 people, including five policemen, were injured in a clash between the activists of BNP and the law enforcers in the district town yesterday.
Police also arrested five BNP men following the incident.
The clash ensued at around 1:00pm when police tried to foil a procession brought out by the district unit of BNP as part of its countrywide agitation programme.
During the clash, a chase and counter chase occurred between the men of BNP-led 18-party alliance and police. The law enforcers also used tear gas shells to disperse the agitators.
“Police cordoned off the party office to foil the programme and charged baton on them. They also ransacked a few loud speakers during the demonstration”, alleged Gusul Azam Doler, secretary of the unit.
Later, the party leaders at a press conference at Gaibandha Press Club condemned the police action and demanded removal of the police superintendent.
They also threatened to launch an agitation programme if the demand was not met by May 15.
Refuting the allegation, police said the demonstrators pelted brick chips at them first. In retaliation, they used teas gas shells to disperse the agitators.
The BNP-led 18-party alliance held the programme to press home its demands including 'return' of its missing leader M Ilias Ali.
In Patuakhali, four people were injured as police and the BNP men clashed in the district town yesterday noon, reports our correspondent.
The injured are Afroza Akhter Sima, 35, Abdul Mannan, 30, Bayezid, 35 and Arif Hossain, 28, activists of district unit BNP.
SM Abdur Rob, secretary of the unit, said police attacked their procession brought out as part of the party's countrywide demonstration, leaving the four injured.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments