Twenty BNP leaders and activists including three policemen were injured in a clash between police and BNP men in Rangpur on Tuesday.
Three of them have been admitted to different hospitals.
The clash took place near the BNP office at the Grand Hotel intersection of the city.
BNP leaders alleged that when they were protesting the killing of Chhatra Dal leader Nayon Miah in Brahmanbaria, police attacked them.
The protest program was scheduled in front of the BNP office at the Grand Hotel intersection of the city at around 4:30pm, according to the BNP leaders.
Around 4pm, when BNP activists were carrying a procession from the city's Shapla Chattar to the party headquarter, police attacked the procession outside the Grand Hotel without provocation and started charging batons.
When the leaders and activists tried to seek refuge inside the party office, the police broke into the office and beat them mercilessly. At least 20 leaders and activists were injured at that time.
The police brutally beat the leaders standing around the party office as well.
Among the injured, Rangpur district BNP member Anis Mandal of Kaunia upazila and BNP leader Rashedul Islam suffered a head injury. Apart from this, Rangpur District Mahila Dal General Secretary Ratna Begum, Rangpur District Tanti Dal Member Secretary Najiur Rahman, Pirganj upazila BNP Organizing Secretary Raihan Pradhan were also seriously injured.
“Police attacked our procession and entered our party office without provocation and beat 20 leaders and activists mercilessly with batons,” said Anisur Rahman, Rangpur district BNP general secretary.
“We will not be prevented from protesting by this kind of torture,” he added with warning.
Meanwhile, the Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) of Kotwali police station of Rangpur Metropolitan city Hossain Ali said BNP leaders and activists attacked polie officers.
“BNP leaders and activists attacked the police in the name of peaceful procession and threw bricks like rain,” said Hossain Ali adding that three policemen were seriously injured by the attack.
The police officers- ASI Momin Uddin, Naik Manik and Constable Mithun Chandra- are receiving treatment at the hospital, he added.
Cases will be filed against the BNP leaders and activists at the police station for various allegations of attacking the police and obstructing government work, the OC furthermore said.
“No one has been detained yet. However, the arrest operation is ongoing,” he added.
