bdnews24.com London correspondent
London, July 16 (bdnews24.com) – A high-profile conference on Bangladesh in London descended into an unruly scrimmage on Friday as supporters of ruling Awami League and opposition BNP clashed.
It was abandoned within minutes of opening as the two groups were locked in clash, leaving at least five people, including the joint general secretary of pro-government Jubo League's London unit injured.
International Bangladesh Foundation organised the conference titled "Human rights, democracy and role of political parties in Bangladesh" at the prestigious London School of Economics.
Lord Avebury, vice-chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group, and Anne Main, chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group for Bangladesh, were supposed to attend the conference but did not turn up.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina's economic affairs adviser Moshiur Rahman, state minister for women and children affairs Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, Amnesty International's Bangladesh researcher Abbas Faiz, journalist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, former ministers Abdul Matin Khosru and Abdul Moyeen Khan, Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP and BNP chairperson's adviser Shaukat Mahmood were the discussants.
But none of them could address it.
Witnesses said things started to go wrong when BNP supporters attacked London Jubo League's joint general secretary Rajibul Haque Badsha with chairs when he protested their shouting during the address of Awami League advisory board member Sultan Sharif. The attack prompted the Awami League supporters to retaliate.
They said BNP's UK unit president Kamaruddin addressed the conference just after Bangladesh high commissioner in London M Sayeedur Rahman Khan opened it at around 3pm.
He depicted a grave human rights situation in the country.
After his speech Awami League's Sharif started delivering his speech. He said: "Words on human rights don't suit to those who come to power through killing. The BNP is crying about human rights only to save the war criminals."
He ploughed on with a speech that was quickly interrupted by protesters.
"Stop it,' came shouts and chants from BNP leader Sharifuzzaman Tapan and other supporters, drowning out Sharif's words, and Badsha protested it.
Chair of the conference Baroness Pola Manzila Uddin announced the end of the conference as she failed to calm the violent supporters.
Badsha was injured in the fracas and hospitalised and he required six stitches.
After the conference was abandoned Manzila Uddin said supporters of both the party should have patience while attending such a meet.
Abbas Fais termed the incident very unfortunate.
The two parties, however, blamed each other in separate press conferences for the brawl.
The UK Awami League's joint general secretary, Syed Faruk, and the UK Juba League president Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury told bdnews24.com that at least seven people were injured.
Six of the injured got hit by chairs thrown by opponents. London Juba League leader Abdur Momin, activist Ruhul Amin and UK Chhatra League organising secretary Jhalak Pal were among the injured
Syed Faruk said Badsha was injured in his head. He added Kamaruddin in his speech deridedSheikh Mujibur Rahman, BAKSAL and the incumbent Awali league-led government.
Anwaruzzaman said some 50 to 60 Juba League men tried to resist BNP by throwing chairs at the opposition in retaliation, when Juba League leader Momin, Amin and Jhalak were injured.
In addition, UK BNP joint secretary Sharifuzzaman Tapan and two other party supporters were injured.
Anwaruzzaman alleged that the attack was made by orders of BNP's senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman.
However, no BNP leader was available for comments over the issue.
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