Violence in Ctg after BNP strike call

BNP activists protesting against the detention of eight top party leaders went on a spate of vandalism and arson in Chittagong on Sunday evening.

A vehicle belonging to a media outlet also came under attack from a pro-shutdown procession.

The BNP has called a 36-hour strike from Tuesday after its Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed and six other senior leaders were denied bail in several cases and sent to prison.

Supporters of the main opposition and its alliance partners started assembling in front of BNP’s office in Nosimon Bhaban from 5pm before dispersing into small processions.

One of the processions reached the city’s Kazir Deuri intersection when four or five BNP supporters got out to attack a microbus belonging to Somoy Television, parked in front of the area’s S Alam Tower.

Cameraman for the television channel ‘Tamanna’ was injured in the attack.

The activists also attacked several other vehicles in the area and smashed the window panes of First Security Bank, located in the tower. A private car was also vandalised in the area.

Locals and journalists apprehended one of the attackers and handed him over to police after Somoy TV’s vehicle was vandalised.

The detained Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal activist Rasel Miah was snatched away by BNP supporters, according to Shimul Nazrul, a senior correspondent of Bangla daily Kaler Kontho.

A truck carrying iron goods also came under attack at around 7 in the evening in the city’s Dewanhat intersection.

Control room officials for Agrabad Fire Service said one of their units doused the fire.

Two crude bombs were simultaneously detonated at Agrabad’s Chowmuhani during that time, Assistant Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police for Double Mooring Zone Hasanuzzaman Molla said.

Assistant Commissioner for Kotwali Zone Mirza Sayem Mahmud confirmed the incidents of vandalism in the port city and added that the law enforcers were working to bring the situation under control.