Police foil violence attempts at Chittagong

The BNP-led alliance’s strike against the 16th Amendment to the Constitution has been peaceful though there have been attempts to unleash violence in Chittagong.

There was no report of any violence until Monday noon. But five persons were arrested while attempting to vandalise vehicles.

Earlier, two more were arrested from BNP’s office at Nasiman Bhaban by Kotwali Police around 11am.

“They were arrested for trying to put up barricades and smash vehicles. The situation is now under control,” Kotwali Police OC AKM Mohiuddin Selim told bdnews24.com.

There were fewer private cars on the streets of the port city while public transport was almost unaffected.

Trains to and from Chittagong have operated as usual, said Chittagong Rail Station Manager Abul Kalam Azad.  

Three strikers were arrested for throwing stones at vehicles near Osmania Glass Sheet Factory, said Chandgaon Police OC Abdur Rouf.    

BNP and its affiliates held a rally in front of Nasiman Bhaban until 10:30 am but other members of the 20-Party alliance did not turn up. 

Small groups of BNP activists, forming processions, gathered near the office from various points of the city but no leader except Metropolitan City Committee member Dr Shahadat Hossain was seen among them.

Meanwhile, the strikers turned over a rickshaw-van to barricade the street in front of Nasiman Bhaban around 11am.

Police, however, dispersed the BNP activists who were then forced to seek refuge in nearby alleys.

They regrouped and tried to smash vehicles when police arrested two Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists Rabiul Hossain and ‘Didar’.

Kotwali Zone Assistant Commissioner Shah Abdur Rouf said there were no untoward incidents in the morning.

“Strike supporters held their rally within a boundary put up outside the party office.”