35 hurt as BNP men, cops clash

At least 35 people, including two journalists and four policemen, were injured in clashes between police and BNP men in Habiganj and Faridpur yesterday during demonstrations over the jailing of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a graft case.

Law enforcers picked up 25 BNP men during the clashes, report our district correspondents.

In Shayestanagar of Habiganj, police fired 54 rubber bullets to disperse the agitating BNP men, witnesses said.

The demonstrations were organised as part of the BNP's programme to hold protest rallies in all district towns and divisional cities, except for Dhaka.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday warned of freeing Khaleda Zia through a “mass upsurge”.

Speaking at a human chain programme, organised by Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad, near the Jatiya Press Club, he alleged that the BNP chief was jailed as part of a conspiracy to keep her away from the next parliamentary polls.

“A conspiracy is afoot to keep Khaleda Zia away from the election…. This illegal government is going ahead with its evil design to keep Khaleda Zia out of politics.”

Fakhrul said the BNP chief must be freed from jail through united efforts of all. “Democracy must be restored in the country by returning the voting rights to people and by holding a fair national election.”

He also called upon the government to free Khaleda to create a congenial atmosphere for holding the next parliamentary polls under the supervision of the Election Commission and a neutral government.

POLICE-BNP CLASHES

In Habiganj, at least 20 BNP men were injured in Shayestanagar area around 11:00am when police fired rubber bullets on a procession brought out by protesters.

Tarek Khan, a witness, said the clash broke when police obstructed a procession of around 300 BNP men, led by party leader GK Gouse, also the mayor of Habiganj Municipality.

An injured BNP activist sits at a home in Habiganj. Photo: Collected

He said the agitators threw brick chips at police.

Gouse claimed that police fired shots at the procession without any provocation.

Yasinul Huq, officer-in-charge of Habiganj Police Station, said police fired 54 rubber bullets to disperse the BNP men who were trying to “create anarchy” in the area.

In Faridpur, at least 15 people were hurt in a clash between BNP men and police in the town's Super Market area around 11:15am. Among the injured were two journalists and four policemen.

Police detained 20 BNP men from the spot.

The clash broke when police obstructed a procession of Faridpur district BNP. Law enforcers snatched banners from the agitators and beat them up, according to witnesses.

Najim Uddin, OC of Faridpur Sadar Police Station, said law enforcers fired 10 shots and three tear gas shells to disperse the protesters after they had thrown brick chips at police.

Talking to reporters at Faridpur Press Club, BNP leader Shama Obaid said police obstructed their peaceful procession and fired bullets on party men.

In Brahmanbaria, police detained five BNP activists in the town's Tan Bazar intersection after some party men had brought out a procession there, said Nabir Hossain, OC of Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station.

In Narayanganj, the BNP held a rally in the city's Balurmath area as part of its protest programme to free Khaleda.

Joynal Abdin Farooque, adviser to the BNP chief, said Khaleda had been in the prison for last 12 days in a “false case”. The party would continue its peaceful protest programme seeking release of the chairperson, he added.

Taimur Alam Khandaker, another adviser to the BNP chairperson, said the party's movement would continue until Khaleda was freed.

Kazi Moniruzzaman Monir, president of Narayanganj district BNP, Zahid Hasan Rozal, organising secretary, and other senior party leaders were present.

The BNP has been staging protest programmes, except for hartal and blockade, since Khaleda landed in jail in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8.