An activist of the Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was killed and many others, including police personnel. were injured in sporadic clashes in different districts during the observance of the party’s 44th founding anniversary on Thursday.
In Narayanganj, Jubo Dal activist Shaon, 20, was killed and 20 others were injured in a clash between the police and opposition activists.
Protesting the death of Shaon and police action, the party has declared two-day protest programs for today and tomorrow across the country.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the program before the party’s Naya Paltan central office.
As part of the programs, the party will arrange gayebana namaz-e-janaza after Jumma prayers. The party will also stage demonstrations across the country tomorrow.
Earlier, the party leaders and activists brought out a rally from the BNP central office to the National Press Club. The rally caused a huge traffic gridlock around the area.
Narayanganj Superintendent of Police (SP) Golam Mostafa Russell said that the BNP's youth wing was trying to create chaos on the road by marching without prior permission.
“When the police tried to clear the street, they started throwing bricks and Molotov cocktails at the police. As a defensive measure, the police fired tear shells and rubber bullets,” he said.
“About 10-12 of our men were injured and are undergoing treatment in different hospitals,” the SP added.
Anisur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Narayanganj Sadar police station, said the BNP activists took out a procession around 10:45am without taking permission from the authorities.
“When the processionists reached the second rail gate area around 11:30am, police stopped them, triggering a chase and counter-chase. At one stage, the protesters attacked the police, prompting the law enforcers to fire rubber bullets,” he added.
The whole of Bangabandhu Road from the second gate turned into a battlefield during the clashes, leaving 20 people injured.
Shaon and five others received bullet injuries during the clash. He was taken to Narayanganj General Hospital, where the doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
In Manikganj, three police officials, including Sadar police OC Abdur Rouf Sarker, and many BNP activists were injured in a clash that took place in Khalpar area of the city.
In Sirajganj, 20 people, including policemen, were injured during clashes in Nobodip area of the district.
Additional Police Super (Sadar Circle) Jashim Uddin said police had to fire tear shells and rubber bullets after the BNP activists hurled brick chips at the police. He claimed that at least five police officials were injured.
The general secretary of the district BNP, Saidur Rahman Bacchu, however, claimed that 15 party activists were injured in police firing.
In Rangpur, at least 15 people, including eight policemen, were injured in a clash at the intersection near Grand Hotel. The clash was triggered when the police stopped a BNP procession in the area, but the protesters broke through the barricade and tried to continue their procession.
Kotwali police station OC (Investigation) Hossain Ali said the police had tried to keep the situation normal, but some of their personnel sustained injuries while trying to prevent the BNP activists from creating anarchy.
Our reporter Shamima Rita, Tangail Correspondent Abdullah Al Noman, Manikganj Correspondent Matiur Rahman, and Rangpur Correspondent Liakat Ali Badal contributed to this report