4 killed as violence erupts in districts
Violent clashes across the country have left at least four people dead and over 300 injured with growing tension over the first anniversary of the controversial January-5 parliamentary polls.
The BNP-led 20-party alliance called for dawn-to-dusk hartals in Natore, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Chittagong today protesting the killings.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Law enforcers detained some 650 BNP-Jamaat men in connection with vandalism, violence, arson attacks and planning for criminal activities.
Dhaka too saw clashes between the activists of BNP-Jamaat and the ruling Awami League, and police.
Pro-Awami League and BNP lawyers and journalists in the capital got involved in chases and counter chases on the Supreme Court and Jatiya Press Club premises.
NATORE
Natore witnessed the worst of the clashes across the country. Two students were shot dead and 15 others were injured as activists of the ruling Awami League and the BNP traded bullets.
The deceased were Rakib Hossain, 20, and Raihan Ali Rana, 20, both students of Natore NS Govt College. Rakib's father claimed that both of them were pro-BNP Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists but the claim could not be verified.
Activists of both sides brought out processions in Tebaria area of the town around 10:30am. Indiscriminate firing from the processions caused injuries, sources said.
Rakib and Raihan were declared dead after they were taken to Natore Sadar Hospital, police said.
Witnesses said the clash erupted in front of police who were just spectators. However, Superintendent of Police Basudev Banik of Natore said there were no police during the clash.
Rakib's brother Anjurul Munshi filed a murder case with Natore Sadar police station.
RAJSHAHI
A BNP leader was shot dead and some 25 people were injured when BNP activists clashed with law enforcers at Baneswar Bazar of Puthia upazila.
Mojiruddin, 45, was the BNP ward unit vice-president of Maria union in Charghat upazila. He died on the spot around 4:30pm after being shot in the head, said Alamgir Kabir, superintendent of police of Rajshahi.
Witnesses and police said the clash erupted around 3:00pm when law enforcers intercepted a BNP procession at Baneswar Bazar.
The BNP men armed with sticks hurled brick chunks and crude bombs at police. The police fired over 100 rubber bullets, teargas shells and sound grenades.
The district police chief claimed that the BNP men's attack on police was planned. “The police was forced to open fire in self defence when BNP men shot at them and hurled over 50 homemade bombs.”
Sources claimed that local AL activists joined the police and left only after Rab and BGB personnel reached the spot.
In the morning, around 10 BNP men were injured when police fired about 40 rubber bullets and teargas shells after BNP men attacked them with crude bombs at Dori Khorbona in Rajshahi city.
The BNP men also torched northern regional Awami League office and Ward-30 AL office at Binodpur. They also set fire to a straw-laden truck in Charghat.
CHAPAINAWABGANJ
A BNP activist was killed and 10 people, including two law enforcers, were injured during a clash between police and Jamaat-BNP men at Kansat-Gopalnagar intersection in Shibganj upazila.
Deceased Jamshed Ali, 40, was the son of Momtaj Ali of Shibnarayanpur. Shahjahan Mia, president of district unit BNP, claimed that Jamshed was a BNP activist.
Moinul Islam, officer-in-charge of Shibganj Police Station, said police opened fire around 3:00pm when Jamaat-BNP men hurled crude bombs and brick chunks at police, violating the section-144 imposed there.
THE CAPITAL
Pro-BNP lawyer Saidur Rahman Jatan and police constable Mustafizur Rahman were injured during a scuffle between pro-BNP lawyers and the police in Supreme Court area after chases and counter chases took place between pro-AL and pro-BNP lawyers in the afternoon.
At least 10 people were injured when police fired rubber bullets on a procession led by BNP leader Mirza Abbas in Shahjahanpur.
Police recovered 20 abandoned petrol bombs from BNP's youth wing leader Mohammad Saleh's house in Gendaria in the morning.
An AL office at Naya Bazar and two BNP offices at Bangshal and Shuritala were set ablaze. BNP men allegedly set fire to a police motorbike, two buses and the office of the Dhaka division rickshaw-van workers' association.
At least three people including a woman were injured in crude bomb blasts in Lalbagh in the evening.
Criminals also exploded homemade bombs in Segunbagicha, Fakirapool, Purana Paltan and near Shikkha Bhaban.
They also vandalised Ibne Sina Hospital near Shankar in Dhanmondi. At least five people were injured in the incident.
CHITTAGONG
At least 20 people, including three policemen and a shop employee, were injured during a clash between police and activists of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Police attempts to foil a 20-party alliance rally near Nasiman Bhaban in the afternoon triggered the clash.
Police detained over 250 people raiding the city BNP office and its adjacent areas and recovered 15 petrol bombs. The raids were going on as of filing of this report yesterday evening.
The arrestees include Aslam Chowdhury, president of Chittagong BNP (north district), and its Vice-President Enamul Haque. Protesting the arrests, BNP has called for the dawn-to-dusk hartal in Chittagong today.
NARAYANGANJ
At least 50 people were injured in three separate clashes between police and BNP and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists.
Jamil Hossain Ullash, cameraman for a TV station, received bullet injuries while covering a clash in Bandar upazila in the morning.
KHAGRACHHARI
At least 40 people were injured during a clash between the BNP and the Awami League activists in the town. District BNP has called for a dawn-to-dusk blockade for today.
SUNAMGANJ
At least 35 people including Sunamganj Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mokbul Hossain Mollah were injured in a clash between the AL and BNP men in the town yesterday afternoon. Police fired 30 teargas shells and rubber bullets to control the situation.
MOULVIBAZAR
At least 20 people, including three policemen, were injured in a clash between cops and BNP activists in Kushumbagh area.
BHOLA
At least 22 people, including three policemen, were injured in a clash between BNP activists and police near Dargah Road area of Bhola municipality yesterday.
CHANDPUR
At least 20 people were injured in a three-way clash between the AL and BNP men and police in Faridganj upazila. The clash erupted when processions of the BNP and the AL got close in the town around 11:00am. Police opened fire and charged truncheons to control the situation.
JHENIDAH
Two police constables and 10 JCD activists were injured during a clash at Sheikhpara Bazar in Shailakupa upazila when the law enforcers intercepted a procession.
BANDARBAN
At least 12 people, including two policemen, were injured in Sadar upazila around noon after AL men attacked BNP men preparing for a protest rally.
SIRAJGANJ
At least 10 BNP men were injured in a clash with police in Sirajganj. The BNP men from their procession hurled brick chunks at police triggering the clash, said Habibul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sirajganj Sadar Police Station.
PABNA
At least 10 people were injured as AL men chased Pabna district BNP men who had brought out a procession from their party office. Police fired shots in the air to control the situation, said Officer-in-Charge Ahsanul Haque of Pabna Sadar Police Station.
PIROJPUR
Pro-AL Bangladesh Chhatra League men vandalised the BNP's district unit office. Newsmen Ziaul Haq of Somoy TV and Hasan Mamun of the daily Alokito Bangladesh were injured while covering the incident.
Meanwhile, police also detained Jamaat and BNP leaders and activists in Rangpur, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Rajshahi, Chandpur, Jhenidah, Kushtia, Dinajpur, Bogra, Feni, Gaibandha, Mymensingh and Noakhali in connection with violence, arson and criminal activities.
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