1 killed in Nilphamari clash

An activist of the Islami Chhatra Shibir was killed and many others injured as its supporters, along with those of the Jamaat-e-Islami, clashed with law enforcers in Nilphamari district town and Jaldhaka upazila town Saturday as violence continued for the third consecutive day over the conviction of Jamaat stalwart Delwar Hossain Sayedee.

The Jamaat-Shibir men brought out a procession in Jaldhaka upazila in the afternoon defying the Section 144 and tried to set fire to vehicles.

Police and Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) personnel opened fire to disperse the unruly activists, leaving Apan Babu, 16, son of Anisur Rahman of Tenganmari Kabirajpara village, dead on the spot.

Nilphamari Superintendent of Police (SP) Hatem Ali told bdnews24.com that BGB personnel were deployed in Jaldhaka upazila headquarters in the morning. Besides, Section 144 was also enforced in the upazila town from 2pm to 12am.

The BGB personnel intervened when the Jamaat-Shibir activists tried to set fire to a bus in Rajarhat area around 3pm violating the Section 144. At one stage, the unruly activists also attacked the BGB men, prompting the law enforcers to open fire to disperse the pickets.

The Jamaat activists also clashed with police at Ananda Babur Pool intersection and Maniker intersection in Nilphamari district headquarters around 4pm.

Law enforcers fired 11 rounds of teargas shells to disperse the agitators.

Additional policemen were deployed and patrolling was strengthened at various points in the town.