A clash took place between supporters of the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP in Shaestanagar area in Habiganj district town on Sunday evening, leaving over 100 people injured.
The clash was a continuation of Saturday’s clash. Both parties claimed that hundreds of leaders and workers of both sides were injured in the clash.
Chases and counter chases took place in phases.
The clash ensued around 6pm during a procession brought out by the ruling party members and lasted for over two hours, according to witnesses.
Later, the police brought the situation under control by firing tear gas shells and rubber bullets.
Habiganj Sadar Model police station Officer-in-charge (investigation) Badiuzzaman said that the situation is calm at present. However, it is not possible to say how many rounds of rubber bullets and tear gas were fired.
The injured people were admitted to different hospitals in the district.
The police and some eyewitnesses said that the leaders and activists of the district Awami League and allied organizations took out a protest march in the afternoon protesting Saturday’s BNP-Police clash.
When the march reached in front of BNP’s office, the supporters of both parties locked into the clash.
Both the BNP and Awami League blamed each other for starting the clash.
District Awami League General Secretary Advocate Md Alamgir Chowdhury said that they held a peaceful protest rally. At the end of the rally, they took out a peaceful procession. At that time, suddenly the BNP leaders started hurling bricks and the clash started. Many Awami League supporters were injured in the clash.
Joint convener of district BNP GK Gaus said that Awami League leaders and activists suddenly attacked their party office with sticks. The office was extensively vandalized. The police also joined the clash with them.
Municipal councilor Shafiqur Rahman Situ and hundreds of activists were injured in the attack, he claimed.
Habiganj Officer-in-Charge Ajay Dev, injured during the Saturday’s clash, was sent to Dhaka on Sunday for better treatment.
Earlier on Saturday, over 100 people, including several cops, were injured as the activists of the BNP and police locked into a clash in the Shaestanagar area in Sylhet’s Habiganj town.
