One dies as cops
FROM PAGE 1
acting office secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince at a press conference at Naya Paltan central office.
At least seven BNP leaders and activists have reportedly been killed in police firing during political rallies in different districts since late July this year.
The party held countrywide mass processions (except in Dhaka and Rangpur) yesterday to press home their 10-point demand, which includes the resignation of the government and a general election under a neutral caretaker government.
During clashes in different districts yesterday, police opened fire, lobbed tear gas shells and charged batons at the BNP activists. Many of the BNP workers were arrested on the spot.
In some places, ruling party activists also attacked the BNP activists, the party alleged.
In Panchagarh, apart from the death, at least 30 people, including BNP activists and police, were injured in the clash. Police detained at least 10 people on the spot.
Witnesses said that when the leaders and activists attempted to bring out a procession from the party office, police obstructed them, which led to the clash.
At one point, police started to charge batons while the activists hurled brickbats.
To disperse the activists, police fired several teargas canisters and rubber bullets.
Local AL men took out a protest procession from the district AL office after the clash.
Shops were shut down and vehicular movement was halted till 4:30pm as panic gripped the town.
Contacted, the Panchagarh SP said the BNP activists gathered in the town from noon and wanted to bring out a procession with sticks around 3:30pm, aiming to disrupt law and order.
As police asked them to conduct a peaceful procession, they launched an attack, he claimed.
The SP said legal steps would be taken against those who obstructed police.
CLASHES, ARRESTS IN OTHER DISTRICTS
At least 30 BNP leaders and activists were injured in a clash with Chhatra League men in Pirojpur town yesterday.
Police said 11 men were detained after the clash.
Around 11:00am, a group led by Aniruzzaman Anik, president of district BCL, attacked the BNP procession and vandalised its office, alleged Alamgir Hossain, convener of Pirojpur district BNP.
Contacted, Anik said they took position on the streets to prevent “BNP-Jamaat’s anarchy”, claiming that four of the BCL men were also injured.
Mohammad Saidur Rahman, superintendent of Pirojpur police, said the clash broke out as the BNP activists attacked the BCL gathering first.
“Police recovered four crude bombs and detained 11 people from the spot.”
In Gazipur, BNP leaders and activists clashed with the police on the local court premises yesterday afternoon when they went to join a rally. At that time, police dispersed them by firing teargas shells and charging batons.
Some 11 BNP men and two policemen were injured in the clash.
Ziaul Islam, officer-in-charge of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said 20 BNP leaders and activists were arrested on charges of vandalism, obstructing police and assault.
In Khulna, police put up barricades in front of the BNP office.
Khulna BNP alleged that 17 leaders and activists have been arrested.
Besides, police carried out raids on the houses of the BNP activists to create panic, alleged Shafiqul Alam Mana, convener of Khulna City BNP.
Molla Jahangir Hossain, the deputy commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (North), told The Daily Star that those who have been arrested already had cases against them and nobody was arrested in connection with the mass procession.
In Noakhali, Sudharam police detained eight BNP men, who were on their way to the procession, from the New Bus Stand area, local party leaders alleged.
Meanwhile, police allegedly foiled the BNP processions in Faridpur and Munshiganj.
In Bagerhat, at least 21 activists of BNP and Jamaat were arrested following a case filed against them, said Alimuzzaman, OC of Fakirhat police station.
Apart from this, the house of Bagerhat district BNP convener ATM Akram Hossain Talim, the party office in Sarui of the town and the business establishment of Sardar Liaquat Hossain, the former district president of Sramik Dal, were vandalised by BCL men, local BNP leaders alleged.
KM Azizul Islam, OC of Bagerhat Sadar Model Police Station, said no one came to file any complaint in this regard.
In Narsingdi, at least 17 BNP men were arrested before and after the procession.
Abul Kashem Bhuiyan, OC of Narsingdi Model Police Station, said most of the arrestees were accused in previous cases.
(Our correspondents in Thakurgaon, Pirojpur, Khulna, Bagerhat, Gazipur and Munshiganj contributed to this report.)