Narayanganj, Oct 23 (bdnews24.com) — Angry locals have torched a temporary army camp at Musuri.
The military personnel deployed there had been obstructed for over five hours before they were evacuated by helicopter.
The mob descended upon the camp on Saturday afternoon almost immediately after the army men were airlifted.
Earlier, at least 50 people were injured in a clash between police and demonstrators who blocked the Rupganj-Ichhapura road for about four hours from 6am demanding cancellation of the government decision to acquire about 5,000 bighas (165,000 decimals) for an army housing project.
The police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) brought the situation under control around noon when they opened fire, charged batons and fired tear-shells on about 7,000 demonstrators.
But the law enforcement agencies have denied firing upon the people.
However, 10 persons with bullet wounds have been admitted in Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Former MP of the area, also a former army chief K M Shafiullah, told reporters that the incident occurred over a misunderstanding.
The current MP, Gazi Golam Dastagir, a freedom fighter, and ruling Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub ul Alam Hanif alleged that the main opposition BNP had instigated the locals to protest and demonstrate.
BEHIND THE SCENE
Locals alleged that the army initiated the 'Army Officers' Housing Society' on 5,000 bighas of Rupganj Union three months ago.
They said the newly-set up army camps at Purbagram, Musuri and Ichhapura villages of Rupganj were forcing locals to sell off their land very cheaply.
Moreover, the local residents of 24 moujas were being prevented from having their land registered, locals alleged.
Several persons, requesting anonymity, told reporters that Kayetpara Union Awami League president Zahed Ali and one 'Tareq' also compelled them to sell their lands cheaply.
DEMO-ROAD BLOCK-FIRE
The agitated locals blocked an eight-kilometre stretch of the Rupganj-Ichhapura-Kaliganj road with tree trunks.
Rupaganj Police Station chief Forkan Sikder told reporters: "At least 7,000 people took part in the demonstration. They also burnt tyres."
Locals said four of the protesters had been taken to the Musuri Army Camp around 10am for a dialogue. The agitated people surrounded the camp laying siege to it as rumours spread that one of the four had been shot dead inside the camp.
The demonstrators and law enforcers came to a face-off around the four camps and locked in a clash, locals added.
The locals started hurling brickbats as the police charged batons on them. The frenzied people also beat up a local Awami League leader Zahed Ali, and went on rampage at his house and set fire to his motorcycle. The protesters also alleged that some associates of Zahed had injured four of them with sharp weapons.
Shafiullah and former MP A K M Shamim Osman reached the spot to calm down the angry people.
Narayanganj police superintendent Afzal Hossain told reporters that RAB and police had charged batons to bring the situation under control.
Meanwhile, the locals alleged that the law enforcers had fired on them. The Narayanganj police chief, denied the allegation. "The police have not even fired a single bullet." He, however, could not confirm whether the other law enforcers had opened fire.
At least 20-25 army personnel remained confined inside the camp after the clash erupted at 11am. As the situation settled down at about 3pm, a military helicopter rescued the army persons, Shafiullah said.
THE INJURED
Among the injured, Mohammad Jamal, 28, Mohammad Masum, 15, Abul Basher, 30, Arif Hossain, 25, Makbul Dewan, 35, Mohammad Alam, 40, Mohammad Manik, 35, Shawkat Ali, 40, Mohammad Masum, 26, and Younus Khan, 50, have been admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) with bullet injuries.
The police officials – assistant sub-inspector Ali Hossain, 32, and constable Nazim Ahmed, 40, who were seriously injured in the head, were also admitted in DMCH.
Officer-in-charge Mohammad Forkan of Rupganj Police Station said that over 50 people were injured in the clash.
AWAMI LEAGUE'S REACTION
MP from Narayanganj-1 (Rupganj) constituency Gazi Golam Dastagir has blamed main opposition BNP for the incident.
He told reporters that the BNP supporters had instigated the locals to stage the demonstration.
Demanding a judicial probe into the incident, Dastagir said, "It's a conspiracy to incite the people into a confrontation with the military."
Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, also a special assistant to prime minister Sheikh Hasina, at a press conference at Rangpur Circuit House on Saturday afternoon soon after the incident, blamed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia for the Rupganj incident.
Hanif said that BNP leaders and activists and its associate organisations had instigated the locals into staging the demonstration.
Hanif alleged that Khaleda provoked the locals to stand against army personnel as the High Court on Oct 13 had upheld a government notice her to leave her cantonment residence within in a month.
Urging the people not to be confused by such instigation, he said, "If there is land dispute, it will be resolved through proper discussion."
Former Awami League MP Shamim Osman claimed that Jamat-e-Islami and BNP held the incident conspiringly. "However, the army have shown their character of patience."
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