At least 29 people including 11 police members were injured as a clash broke out between police and BNP activists on Monday in Kishoreganj.
Meanwhile, another clash between BNP and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists in Jhenadiah municipality on the same day left at least 10 people injured and a business organisation vandalised.
The incident in Kishoreganj occurred around 12:30 pm in front of the BNP office in the district.
According to BNP activists, Jatiotabadi Jubo Dal (youth wing of BNP) activists were obstructed by police while coming with a procession to a rally organised to observe the National Revolution and Solidarity Day. Without any provocation, police charged with batons and fired rubber bullets at them, they alleged.
Kishoreganj district BNP General Secretary Mazharul Islam said that 18 activists of the party including district Jubo Dal President Khasruzzaman Sharif, Senior Vice-President Mushtaq Ahmed, acting general secretary Sazzad Hossain district Chhatra Dal joint general secretary Abdullah Al Mamun, and district Swecchasebak Dal leader Zubair were injured.
The district’s sadar circle Additional Superintendent of Police Md Al-Amin Hossain said 11 police members including Kishoreganj model police station Officer-in-Charge Mohamamd Daud were injured by brick chips thrown by the BNP activists.
OC Mohamamd Daud said he had to tackle the activists as they were acting insolently from the procession and later threw brick chips at them.
Police members later charged with batons on the activists and fired blank shots at them to take control of the situation, he said.
Police cordoned off BNP office keeping several leaders locked inside including him till 3 pm, said BNP leader Mazharul Islam.
BCL, BNP activists clash in Jhenaidah, several hurt
A clash between BNP and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists in Jhenadiah municipality broke out around noon at old DC Court area as BCL activists brought out a procession from KC college to observe ‘Day of the killing of freedom fighters’ while BNP activists brought their procession from Press Club premises to observe ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’, said witnesses.
As the processions of the two parties reached near old DC Court area, a chase and counter-chase between them started and they threw brick chips at each other.
As BCL activists stepped back and took position at Post office intersection in the city, BNP activists allegedly vandalised a Jubo League leader’s business establishment in the area.
Police later charged batons and dispersed the activists from the area and the situation is currently under control, said Jhenadiah sadar circle Additional Superintendent of Police Abul bashar.
Jhenadiah district Jubo League Convener Ashfaq Mahmud John said when BCL activists brought out a procession peacefully BNP activists attacked them, injuring several BCL activists.
“They vandalised my business establishment, while police also attacked our activists,” he claimed.
However, Jhenadiah district BNP President Advocate MA Mazid denied the allegation of vandalisation and said it was BCL activists who attacked first.
ASP Abul Bashar said additional police members have been deployed in the area.
