8 hurt as pro-AL men swoop on BNP rally

At least eight BNP men were injured after an attack allegedly by Chhatra League and Jubo League men on a rally at Faridpur Press Club yesterday afternoon.

In Rajshahi, BNP leaders alleged that 55 party leaders and activists from different districts of the division were arrested in several false cases ahead of its December 3 divisional rally there.

Faridpur BNP leaders claimed that the attack was carried out in front of police.

Faridpur town unit BNP organised the rally protesting filing of "false" cases against party men, arrests, and torture by police.

Witnesses said Chhatra League and Jubo League men reached in front of the press club chanting "Joy Bangla" slogan and started throwing brick chunks at the club from outside. As Shahidur Rahman, organising secretary of Faridpur district Jubo Dal, started his speech around 4:00pm, at least 30-35 youths wearing helmets and masks and carrying sticks attacked the venue.

The attackers snatched banners, vandalised chairs and exploded three crude bombs.

Police later fired 11 shots in the air and chased away the attackers to bring the situation under control, witnesses added.

As some local BNP leaders went to the press club with some supporters after about half an hour, police detained a Chhatra Dal activist, triggering a clash with the opposition party men.

Speaking at the rally as the chief guest, BNP standing committee member Abdul Moin Khan said 11 party leaders and activists have been killed in police firing recently.

"We organised the rally protesting the torture of BNP leaders and activists by the government. We were attacked by ruling party men when we came to hold the small rally peacefully," he said.

Syed Modarres Ali, convener of Faridpur district BNP, said eight BNP men were injured in the attack. "Police detained four party activists from the venue area."

Sumon Ranjan Sarkar, additional superintendent of police (Sadar circle), said law enforcers tried their best to control the situation.

"We fired 11 shots in the air to bring the situation under control," he added.

Saha Md Istiak Arif, general secretary of Faridpur district Awami League, said none from the ruling party, Jubo League and BCL were involved in the attack. "It was an outcome of the BNP's intra-party feud."

BNP MEN POURING INTO RAJSHAHI CITY

BNP leaders and activists from different districts around Rajshahi started gathering the divisional city yesterday, three days ahead of its December 3 rally at Rajshahi Madrasa Maidan.

The opposition men were reaching the city early as the Rajshahi bus owners' association and workers' union are enforcing an indefinite strike from today morning to press home their 10-point-demand, including removal of three-wheelers from highways.

Some BNP leaders alleged that new cases were being filed at different districts to obstruct party men from joining the rally.

Speaking at a press conference at the party office in the city yesterday, BNP Rajshahi divisional Organising Secretary Ruhul Kuddus Talukdar Dulu alleged that 55 leaders and activists from Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Sirajganj and Joypurhat were arrested on Tuesday night in "false" cases ahead of the rally.

This was being done to spread panic among the BNP men, he added.

Meanwhile, police yesterday set up some temporary check posts at the entries to Rajshahi city and some other areas.

Police sent many BNP men back from the check posts. Besides, owners of many hotels and community centres refused to provide accommodation to opposition men citing police orders, said Ruhul Kuddus.

Rofiqul Alam, additional deputy commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, told this newspaper that they set up at least 17 check posts in and around the city to ensure security.

"All our activities are planned to ensure peace and security of the people," he said.

In Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj, an AL leader filed a case against 170 BNP men on Tuesday night on charges of hurling Molotov cocktails at a local office of the ruling party.

BNP leaders, however, denied the allegation saying that the case was lodged to harass the party men.

Our correspondents in Rajshahi, Faridpur and Pabna contributed to this report.