Police break up BNP’s Dhaka rally

The BNP failed to hold demonstrations in front if its Naya Paltan headquarters as clashes broke out between demonstrators and police Wednesday afternoon.

The cops and the party activists indulged in running battles on the western flank of the demonstration venue.

Police personnel fired into the air, rubber bullets and teargas canisters to break up protesters as the clashes raged. Several crude bombs were also exploded at the BNP headquarters premises during the chaos.

The main opposition party claimed its several leaders, including central leaders Nazrul Islam Khan, Amanullah Khan and Abdus Salam, were injured in the police firing.

Police, on the other hand, claimed the clash was planned by the activists of Jamaat-e-Islami for foiling the demonstration.

The BNP organised the demonstrations at Naya Paltan to protest what it called ‘genocide’ by the government during the recent shutdowns.

bdnews24.com’s Chief Political Correspondent Sumon Mahmud reported the clash first broke out at Nightingale intersection around 4:30pm as BNP’s Vice President Hafizuddin Ahmed started addressing the demonstrators, prompting police to fire blank shots.

A truck was used to build a makeshift stage in front of the BNP headquarters at Naya Paltan for the demonstration.

Party’s Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and senior leaders Rafiqul Islam Miah, Nazrul Islam Khan, Sadek Hossain Khoka and Aman Ullah Aman were on the stage when the clashes began.

Activists were urged through loudspeakers not to panic as they ran helter-skelter out of fear. But a group of people with sticks in their hands continued chanting slogans surrounding the stage.

Police advanced towards the demonstration stage from the Nightingale direction firing shots in the air. Several crude bombs were also exploded.

The entire area wore a deserted look in minutes, with the BNP activists rushing inside their headquarters for shelter.

“We assume the pro-government people had launched the attack in a planned way. It was at that time police marched towards us firing shots in the air,” said BNP leader Zainul Abedin Farruque.

He claimed BNP leaders Nazrul Islam Khan and many of their activists were injured in the clashes. He, however, could not provide details about the injured instantly.

Several leaders, including Nazrul Islam Khan, came out of their headquarters around 5:15pm. It was seen parts of their bodies were hit by stray bullets.

Three and four ambulances were used to carry the injured to hospitals.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Assistant Commissioner Mehedi Hasan rushed there at that moment.

“We had information beforehand that Jamaat-Shibir may resort to violence during BNP’s today’s demonstration,” said Hasan.

He said the message was conveyed to the BNP leaders also.

“They had assured us that no violence would take place.”

“But before the demonstration was over, a group of 20/25 people carrying Jamaat banner attacked on police. Jamaat-Shibir activists launched attacks on police almost at the same time at Culvert road and Shantinagar intersection.”

According top him, police had to fire rubber bullets and teargas canisters to reign in the situation.

Jamaat had also called for a rally for Wednesday to press for release of convict war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayeede.

Police has cordoned off the BNP headquarters. Tge streets around the BNP headquarters were off-limits to traffic.