BNP leader Tabith Awal, who was attacked by unidentified youths on his way back from a party program in Dhaka's Banani area on Saturday, has been released from United Hospital with six stitches in the head.
Awal’s personal secretary Hassan, who was also injured in the attack, was still undergoing treatment at the ICU of the hospital, according to hospital sources.
Tabith Awal told Dhaka Tribune: “Although the doctors did not tell me directly about my deep injury, they said that there is tissue damage in different parts of my body, I will have to go to the hospital twice a day for a checkup in the next few days. The head injury is also deep.”
He said Hassan was in critical condition.
In his account of the incident, Awal said: “After the candle lighting ceremony, when our leaders and activists were walking by the side of the Banani field, I suddenly saw two groups coming towards us from both sides.”
He said the attackers had metal rods and bamboo sticks as weapons, and were shouting “beat them, beat them”.
“We were trying to protect the women behind us. It seemed as if they were targeting the head,” the BNP leader said.
On Saturday, a BNP sit-in and candle lighting program in front of the local Sheraton that began at around 7pm in the evening.
At the same time, leaders, and activists of Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League took position near Kakrail intersection and chanted slogans.
The BNP had announced the program in the capital to protest against recent increases in the prices of fuel, essential commodities, and the killing of three party leaders from Bhola and Narayanganj.
BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said the attack took place on the way back after the program.
He said: "Before the start of our program, Chhatra League and Jubo League were marching on the other side of the road. But when the speech of the chief guest BNP standing committee member Khandkar Mosharraf Hossain was almost at the end, they came and attacked our leaders and activists.”
When contacted, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said: “People of the country are still angry with the BNP for various misdeeds. They [BNP] are again walking on the path of terror, provoking Awami League leaders and activists, and provoking the police.”
Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said BNP and Jamaat were inciting violence and trying to create chaos.
“They are again on the streets, conducting raids under the guise of party meetings. Their conspiracies are not over. Be careful about them,” Hanif added.
Banani police station Officer-in-Charge Noore Azam Miah told Dhaka Tribune: "BNP's program ended well. At the end of the program, we saw several people running on the road. We are trying to find out who carried out the attack.”
