Police constable among 5 hurt in Sylhet during clashes following Khaleda's conviction

At least five people, including a police constable, have been injured during a clash between Awami League and BNP activists in the Court Point area of Sylhet Metropolitan City following the pronouncement BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's prison sentence. According to witnesses, activists of the two parties came face to face with their processions at Court Point at around 2:30pm, immediately after the verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case was delivered in Dhaka. The opposing sides hurled brickbats at each other and the BNP activists eventually retreated. Several vehicles were vandalized in the incident Later at around 3pm, armed followers of Awami League took position at the Court Point and Karim Ullah Market areas. Besides, a few vehicles of different private banks at Laldighipar were vandalized immediately after news of Khaleda's five year imprisonment reached the city.

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Another clash took place between the supporters of BNP and the ruling party at Jindabazar Point at 3:30pm. Sylhet district unit Jubo League Convenor Mushfiq Jaigirdar claimed three of their men were hurt during the clash. Activists of the two parties came face to face with their processions at the Court Point area in Sylhet city at around 2:30pm on February 8, 2018 Dhaka TribuneSylhet Metropolitan Police's (SMP's) Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Muhammad Abdul Wahab confirmed that some incidents of volence had taken place around the city after the pronouncement of the verdict. "Police lobbed several teargas shells to avert the clashes. Constable Shamim was injured by shotgun pellets during one of the incidents. Four pedestrians were also injured,” the ADC said. Meanwhile, Sylhet City Corporation Mayor and BNP Central Committee Member Ariful Haque alleged that police had not let him to leave his Kumarpara residence since Thursday morning.