The Narayanganj unit Chhatra League has rejected claims that its activists were behind the vandalism on Shaheed Minar premises during a programme marking the 155th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore on Wednesday afternoon.
Instead, the ruling Awami League's student front on Thursday blamed cultural activist Rafiur Rahman Rabbi and his followers for attacking its activists when they brought out a procession near the Shaheed Minar.
Chhatra League men in action at Narayanganj Shaheed Minar DHAKA TRIBUNE
Chhatra League's Narayanganj district and city units, at media call, claimed their supporters were marching peacefully protesting against Rafiur Rabbi's “derogatory remarks” about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Osman family.
Rabbi, at a programme on May 5 marking his son Tanvir Mohammad Tawki's murder, demanded punishment of Shamim Osman, his son and nephew. Chhatra League criticised the remarks and announced the protest rally for Wednesday.
Chhatra League men burning the effigy of Rafiur Rahman Rabbi DHAKA TRIBUNE
In a written statement, Chhatra League said they decided to avoid gathering at the Shaheed Minar after learning that Unmesh Sangskritik Sangathan was celebrating Rabindra Jayanti.
“But Rafiur Rabbi's men attacked us as we neared the place carrying his effigy,” it added.
Chhatra League men in action at Narayanganj Shaheed Minar DHAKA TRIBUNE
Narayanganj city unit Chhatra League Convener Hamidur Rahman Riyad said: “We asked our supporters to calm down. But many of them tried to enter the Shaheed Minar premises as brickbats and verbal abuses were hurled at us.”
He insisted that they did not attack the programme, where Rabbi was supposed to attend.
Chhatra League men in action at Narayanganj Shaheed Minar DHAKA TRIBUNE
Chhatra League activists wielded sticks in the procession brought out under police protection. But police were not seen obstructing them when they launched the attack.
Unmesh Sangskritik Sangathan alleged that the student front's city unit leaders and activists attacked their programme and occupied the venue.
Chhatra League men in action at Narayanganj Shaheed Minar DHAKA TRIBUNE
Awami League's district and city units also backed Chhatra League, saying reports of the student front attacking the event was propaganda.
“Some isolated leftist people posing as Awami League men are lying about the incident to create unrest in Narayanganj,” the party leaders said in a media release.
Earlier, the president of the cultural organisation, Pradip Ghosh, in a press conference said three of their activists, including two women, were injured in the attack.