54 detained after clashes at Bakshibazar

Police have detained 54 people in the wake of clashes between BNP activists and government supporters at Bakshibazar when Khaleda Zia appeared before a special court there.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 24 Dec 2014, 07:23 PM
Updated : 24 Dec 2014, 07:23 PM

Awami League MP Chhabi Biswas was also injured and his official car set on fire while clashes took place in phases since Wednesday afternoon.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner Saidur Rahman later at night told bdnews24.com that 30 people were detained from Kadamtali, 18 from Shahbagh and six from Chawkbazar.

They would be sued for attacking police personnel and vandalising state property, said Chawkbazar Police Station Sub-Inspector Ahmed Sharif.

Police, however, did not provide the identities or political affiliations of the detainees.

Khaleda had appeared before Dhaka's Third Special Judge's Court at Alia Madrasa ground to attend the hearing of a corruption case against her.

Activists of the party and its front organisations, who had been gathering at Bakshibazar since morning, took out a march around 12:15pm.

The procession was attacked by a group of ruling Awami League supporters at the Bakshibazar intersection.

BNP activists ran towards the BUET campus in Palashi, where members of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) attacked them and a clash erupted.

Police intervened after a while, firing in the air and teargas canisters to disperse them. At least 50 people were injured in the hour-long clash.

Police also detained six from the scene.

BNP's acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir later at a press briefing held the ruling party responsible for the clashes.

On the other hand, police have blamed the BNP for the clash.