C T Online Desk: At least 200 people were injured as activists of the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP were locked in sporadic clashes during their political programmes, carrying out vandalism and arson attacks in many places of the country on Saturday.
The clashes took place in Sirajganj, Natore, Narayanganj, Jamalpur, Bhola, Jhalakathi and Narsingdi districts as the two parties held their union-level programmes on the same day.
BNP staged a march programmes, protesting against the unusual hikes in the prices of essential commodities. It also demanded resignation of the AL-led government and holding of a free and fair national election.
During the BNP programme, Awami League held a peace rally so that BNP cannot cause any harm to public life and damage properties.
In Sirajganj, a chase and a counter chase took place between AL and BNP men in Paikpara area of Sadar Upazila around 11:00am.
Some 13 motorcycles of the ruling party activists were set on fire during the clash.
Police and witnesses said many leaders and workers of Kaliaharipur Union Awami League gathered Paikpara Junction to join a peace rally.
But, BNP leaders and workers also gathered there to participate in their programme.
When leaders and activists of both the parties came to confrontation, a clash erupted between them. During the melee, 13 motorcycles were set on fire and vandalised.
Several shops were also vandalized during the clash. Later, police brought the situation under control.
Kaliaharipur Union AL General Secretary Jahangir Hossain said AL men were holding a peace rally, but BNP terrorists attacked them and burned 13 motorcycles.
Sirajganj District BNP General Secretary Saidur Rahman told journalists that Awami League is planning to attack them to disrupt their peaceful march programme.
District Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Rezyanul Islam said police are on alert during the countrywide programmes of Awami League and BNP.
In Natore, at least 20 people were injured in a clash between leaders and activists of Awami League and BNP.
The clash flared up when Awami League held its peace rally while BNP staged a demonstration.
The injured activists were admitted to different hospitals in the district town.
Witnesses said BNP men went to Pirganj Bazar of Natore Sadar upazila in the morning to hold a protest rally.
Meanwhile, AL men started gathering there. At one stage, a clash broke out between the two camps.
At least 20 leaders and activists of Madhnagar union and Piprul union BNP, including upazila BNP general secretary Shakhawat Hossain, were injured in the clash.
Abul Kalam, officer-in-charge of Naldanga Police Station, said there was no attack on the BNP’s protest rally. No one was injured. However, there has been tension and scuffle between the two parties.
However, lawmaker Shafiqul Islam Shimul said a Bangladesh Chhattra League (BCL) leader was attacked by BNP activists.
In Jamalpur, at least 28 people, including some policemen, were injured in a clash between Awami League and BNP on Saturday.
This incident took place in Kamalkhan Bazar of Titpalla Union of Jamalpur Sadar Upazila in the afternoon.
Witnesses said that during the peace rally of Awami League and a march of BNP, a pitched battle took place between the two sides.
The police fired shotguns and teargas to bring the situation under control.
Titpalla Union Awami League General Secretary Daultuzzaman told journalists that he and five other people were injured in an ambush by BNP men during the AL peace rally.
However, District BNP General Secretary Advocate Shah Md. Waresh Ali Mamun said, ‘Awami League leaders and activists attacked BNP men with sticks during their march programme.
Later, police went there and fired bullets and teargas. Some 20 BNP activists were injured in this incident.
He also said, “Awami League has obstructed and attacked the BNP march in Digpait, Ghoradhap, Banshchara and Melandh Jhaugara Union of Sadar Upazila.”
In Narsingdi, BNP central committee joint convener and Narsingdi district committee convener Khairul Kabir Khokon’s motorcade allegedly came under attack.
Four Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders were reportedly injured in the incident.
The incident took place around 11:00am at the Itakhola intersection of Shibpur Police Station in the district. Police arrested one person from the spot.
Shibpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Firoz Talukder said, “There was a clash between district BNP leader Khairul Kabir Khokon and Chhatra Dal leaders.
Sohel alias Shuvo, president candidate for the district JCD, was arrested from the spot and admitted to Shibpur Upazila Health Complex. He suffered head injuries.
“Legal action will be taken against those who were involved in the incident,” he said.
In Narayanganj, at least 13 people were injured in a clash between police and BNP men in Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj on Saturday afternoon.
The clash took place on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway in Panchrukhi area around 1:15pm while the BNP was holding demonstration as part of the party’s central programme.
The law enforcers also charged batons on them and fired rubber bullets, leaving 10 BNP men injured.
Azizul Haque, officer-in-charge of Araihazar Police Station, said the leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway this noon, causing severe traffic congestion.
Police requested the BNP men to leave the highway, but they hurled brick chips on the law enforcers, said the OC.
Police fired rubber bullets and lobbed teargas in self-defense and managed to disperse the demonstrators.
Three policemen were injured following the attack by BNP men, the police officer added.
In Bhola, there have been allegations of attacks by Awami League leaders and activists at various places in Bhola during the BNP march.
More than 50 BNP leaders and activists were allegedly injured in the attack.
