At least six people were killed and 300 others injured, including dozens of law enforcers, in a series of clashes across the country on Friday between activists of the BNP-led 18-party alliance, Awami League and members of law enforcement agencies.
The clashes occurred as opposition activists brought out processions defying the section 144 restrictions imposed in different districts. Police fired hundreds of rubber bullets and tear gas canisters to bring situations under control, while hundreds of arrests were also made.
In Chandpur, three Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal men were killed and over 50 people were injured in a three-way clash among BNP, Awami League activists and the police in Faridganj upazila on Friday afternoon, according to our correspondent. The deceased were identified as Mohammad Arif, 28, Jahangir, 26, and Sharif, 22.
Witnesses said the clashes began when police and ruling party activists attacked a BNP procession near the Veterinary Hospital in the upazila town around 4pm.
At one stage, police allegedly opened fire on the BNP men, leaving Arif dead on the spot. The law enforcers fired over 200 rounds of rubber bullets and teargas shells during the clashes.
Nazmul Haque, officer-in-charge of Faridganj police station said they were forced to fire rubber bullets and tear gas for bringing the situation under control.
Meanwhile, the local unit of BNP has called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the area for today, protesting the attacks.
In Cox’s Bazar, two people were killed and 50 more were injured in clashes between BNP activists and law enforcers in Chakaria upazila town on Friday afternoon.
The deceased were identified as Belal Uddin Badsha Miah, 23, a teashop owner, and Mizanur Rahman, 25, a BNP activist, according to our correspondent.
Sources said, BNP activists defied section 144 and gathered near the Chiringa bus stand for holding a rally after Jumma prayers.
The clash was triggered when police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel tried to prevent the opposition activists. The law enforcers later opened fire, leaving Belal and Mizanur dead on the spot and many more injured.
Ranjit Barua, Chakaria police station OC, confirmed the incident to the Dhaka Tribune.
The OC added that three BGB men and five policemen were also hurt during the clashes.
In Nilphamari, one person was killed and 15 others were injured in Jaldhaka of Nilphamari district during clashes between the police and Islami Chhatra Shibir men.
Police used 50 rounds of tear shells during the clashes, which broke out when law enforcers tried to stop Shibir activists from bringing out a rally.
The deceased was identified as Moslem Uddin, 32, a Shibir activist, confirmed Moniruzzaman, OC of Jaldhaka police station.
In the capital Dhaka, sporadic violence marked the day. Some unidentified people blasted two crude bombs in front of the Jhigatola house of Suranjit Sengupta, minister without portfolio, at around 6:30am.
Mainul Islam, OC of Hazaribagh police station, said security had been increased at the house and a probe was going on about the incident.
Several crude bombs were also set off in front of BNP chairperson’s Adviser Osman Farruk’s residence at Indira Road.
Unidentified youths also set off a crude bomb in front of the Dhanmondi house of BNP chairperson’s Adviser Barrister Nasir Uddin at around 10:30am, said Masud Karim, OC of Dhanmondi police station.
He added that some eight to ten youths, riding on five motorbikes, also blasted crude bombs at BNP’s Dhaka district unit President Abdul Mannan’s house.
Many crude bombs were also set off by unidentified youths throughout the day in the city’s Shewrapara, Shahbagh, and Paltan areas.
A private car was set ablaze at 7pm in Segunbagicha, while a bus of ETC Paribahan was also torched at Karwan Bazar.
Police also fired four rounds of rubber bullets to disperse unidentified youths who blasted three petrol bombs in the city’s National Eidgah area at around 5:30pm.
In Gazipur, clashes between Awami League and BNP supporters left at least 50 people hurt in Sheerpur area. The clashes took place when ruling party activists tried to stop BNP men from attending a rally.
In Chittagong, police recovered bomb-making materials from a thatched house in Akbar Shah area, said Abdul Majid, OC of Akbar Shah police station.
Acting on a tip-off, a police team raided the house on Thursday night and seized a kilogram of gunpowder, 15 small lid-boxes and scotch-tapes from the scene, he said.
In Noakhali, at least 50 people were injured in clashes that took place between Awami League and BNP activists after the opposition men allegedly set fire to the district Awami League office in town hall area, which also gutted 12 nearby shops.
Police Superintendent Anisur Rhaman said, 15 police men including himself were injured during the clashes.
In Netrokona, at least 20 people, including two police personnel, were hurt in clashes between police and BNP activists at Kalmakanda upazila town, which began after law enforcers tried to stop a BNP procession.
In Tangail, the local administration imposed section 144 in Gopalpur upazila to avoid clashes between BNP and Awami League on Friday. In Mymensingh, at least 20 people, including 10 police personnel, were injured during chase and counter chase between police and BNP men at Natun Bazar area on Friday evening.
In Khulna, at least ten people were injured after clashes broke out between Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Shibir men over sitting arrangements at the opposition alliance’s rally at Ferry-ghat area.
In Lalmonirhat, at least 10 people, including three policemen and a journalist, were injured in clashes among the police, and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League and Chahtra Dal at Hatibandha upazila town.
In Bogra, a group of miscreants set fire to a government office in Nandigram upazila. Shahjahan Ali, OC of Nandigram police station, said two rooms of Bangladesh Rural Development Board office were gutted in the fire, along with government documents.
In Rangamati, at least 15 BNP activists and five policemen were injured in clashes between Awami League and BNP on Friday afternoon. The clashes began after ruling party men allegedly attacked a BNP procession.