Crude bomb blasts, ‘Joy Bangla’ chants ring out as police break up AL march in Gulshan

Several hundred leaders and activists of the banned Awami League have marched in Dhaka’s Gulshan, chanting “Joy Bangla” slogans, before being dispersed by police.

Gulshan Police Station chief Daud Hossain said the group gathered in front of Bhola Mosque in Gulshan-1 around 11:45am on Friday and attempted to march from there.

When police moved to disperse them, the marchers exploded two crude bombs, he said.

Police then fired two rounds of rubber bullets to break up the procession, according to Daud.

Videos circulating on social media showed several hundred people chanting “Joy Bangla” as police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Two people were arrested at the scene and five crude bombs were recovered, Daud said.