Clashes between the activists of BNP and Awami League on Friday left dozens of people injured with the two groups blaming each other for the violence.
The local BNP leaders said at least 15 of the party’s leaders and activists, including Nipun Roy Chowdhury, were injured in the clash with Awami League men during the opposition party’s rally in Keraniganj of Dhaka.
The programme was organised to press home the party’s 10-point demand, including the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government before the next general election.
A group of 25 to 30 people, led by Awami League leader Azhar Bangali, attacked the BNP office in the Zinjira area this afternoon, while the rally was going on, claimed Nipun, a member of the BNP’s Executive Committee.
Among the injured are Sazzad Hossain, president of Keraniganj Jubo Dal, Zahirul Islam Mamun, south Keraniganj Swechchhasebak Dal joint secretary, Mojazzed Hossain, Dhaka district BNP organising secretary.
Azhar Bangali claimed that while he was passing the area BNP men attacked him.
Local Awami League leaders also accused BNP activists of vandalising the Awami League office in South Keraniganj, leaving at least 25 people injured. Some of the injured were taken to hospital, they said.
According to eyewitnesses, men from both parties attacked each other with bamboo sticks.
5 injured in Khagrachhari clash
At least five BNP men, including Khagrachhari district unit Vice-President Khetro Mohon Royaza, were injured in an attack on a motorcade allegedly by ruling Awami League men in Sadar upazila on Friday.
Wadud Bhuiyan, president of the district unit BNP, said their five men, including Royaza, sustained injuries after being attacked by the AL men without any provocation.
Suddenly, a group of Awami League men equipped with sticks and brickbats carried out the attack on the motorcade heading towards their party office in the Sadar upazila around 11:15am, he said.
Though BNP’s central Vice-President Abdullah Al Noman was also in the motorcade, he remained unhurt, he said, adding that the injured received treatment from several hospitals later.
Denying the allegations of the attack, district Jubo League General Secretary KM Ismail Hossain claimed that the BNP men swooped on them when they were taking preparation for a party programme in front of their office in the Narikelbagan area.
The Awami League men just resisted the BNP men when the attack was made, he said.
Arifur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Khagrachhari police station, said no major incidents occurred in the town and the situation is now under their control.
