BNP activists clash with police at Science Laboratory, try to torch bus

Activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party clashed with police and tried to set a double-decker on fire at Science Laboratory crossing in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Police said that BNP activists attacked police from the tail end of their march they brought out to press home a 10-point demand including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.

They also accused the BNP activists of vandalising cars and trying to set a BRTC bus on fire.

Locals said that BNP leaders and activists started a march after a short rally in front of Bangladesh Medical College in Dhanmondi.

As police intercepted the marchers in front of Simanto Square as they proceeded towards the Science Laboratory crossing, some of the processionists tried to break the police barricade and move forward. At that time, they clashed with the police, the locals said.

At one point, police started charging batons on the protesters and they retaliated by throwing bricks and stones on the police. Both the police and the protesters chased each other and police fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters, said the local.

The protesters also vandalised some cars and tried to set a double-decker on fire.

Fire Service control room duty officer Khaleda Yesmin said they were informed of the violence at the Science Laboratory crossing. But none of their units had to rush the spot.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Commissioner (Ramna Division) Muhammad Ashraf Hossain told the reporters that some activists attacked police from the tail of the procession. They threw stones at police and beat the police with sticks meant for carrying banners, he said adding that the police personnel tried to resist them.

Ashraf said the activists also tried to set a BRTC bus on fire but failed and broke its windshield.

He said that several police personnel sustained injuries in the clash.

“We will go for legal action over the incident,” he said adding that 10 to 12 people have been detained from the spot and the police are verifying their involvement in the violence.