A chaotic situation has been erupted as the Dhaka North City Corporation authorities started eviction drive at Tejgaon truck stand.
Witnesses said a team led by Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq and Railways Minister Md Mazibul Hoque reached the truck stand area around 1pm Sunday.
Initially transport workers helped in the eviction but they got angered when police asked to remove a covered van.
Agitating transport workers claimed that one of their fellows, Jasim Uddin, was injured with bullet. They said the injured person was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Meanwhile, online news portal bdnews24.com cameraperson Tanvir Ahmed was injured by brick hurled by the transport workers.
Bdnews reporter Ashik said: "Tanvir received injury in his head. He was admitted to Samorita Hospital. The workers also broke Tanvir camera."
Later, it was seen the protesting grabbers ignited tyres on the road to thwart the eviction drive.
The transport workers also seen throwing bricks towards the newsmen covering the situation.
Additional law enforcers were deployed in the area.
The workers also vandalised five to six vehicles including media and city corporation vehicles.
Mayor Annisul Huq was confined to the truck stand office for about three hours. Later, he came out of the office around 4:45pm under police protection.
Coming out from the union office with police escort, Annisul said: “A well-managed truck terminal will be constructed here very soon.”
While staying inside the office, Annisul said: “I have been running the Tejgaon bus stand eviction drive in consultation with railways minister and local transport leaders for the sake of the city dwellers. I will not retreat from the drive in the face of protest from some grabbers."
He said: "I have heard that one person was injured. But I have no idea whether it is a rumor."
Annisul said some people were hurling bricks and some were instigating it.
"The drive will continue. This mayor is not a coward that he will leave in face of such chaotic situation. We are clearing the government land. The prime minister is with me in this move. I am not scared of anyone," Annisul added.
Truck and Covered Van Owners Association President Rustom Ali said: "We have been announcing since three to four days to clear the truck stand. We have full support in the eviction drive."
He said some quarters were trying to prevent the move.
Asked who the people are, Rustom Ali said: "Some grabbers, groups of workers and mechanics who are dependable on the truck stand for their livelihood are instigating against the eviction."
Terming the situation as an isolated incident, Tejgaon zone Deputy Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarkar said: "Police did not open fire on the transport workers. Some people are distracting them saying about police firing."