BNP: 300 injured in 'police attack' on party's Habiganj rally
The party held rallies in six districts to press home its demand
File photo of BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Collected
Tribune Report
Publish : 22 Dec 2021, 07:27 PMUpdate : 02 Jan 2022, 11:06 AM
Hundreds of BNP leaders and activists as well as 15 policemen were injured on Wednesday in clashes between party members and law enforcers in Habiganj.
BNP leaders, including Rajib Ahmed, the organizing secretary of the district Chhatra Dal, have been sent to Dhaka in critical condition. The rest are being treated at various local clinics, sources have said.
Party leaders and activists had been gathering in front of the BNP office in Shaistanagar since morning as part of a central program to press home their demand for the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and sending her abroad for medical treatment.
The clashes broke out at 1:30pm when the BNP leaders and activists tried to break free of the police barricade. The clashes continued in phases till 2:30pm.
Party leaders cancelled their scheduled meeting in the afternoon, alleging that the police sprayed rubber bullets and tear gas shells indiscriminately on them and their activists to disrupt their pre-arranged rally.
Later, at a press conference, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said that police had provoked and attacked the BNP leaders and workers. “An unannounced curfew was imposed in Habiganj town to disrupt the rally.”
Khandaker Mosharraf, who was the chief guest of the rally, said the Awami League was afraid to deal with the BNP. That is why it (Awami League) was using the police to harass the BNP leaders.
“The Awami League does not believe in democracy. As long as they (Awami League) are in power, democracy won’t be established in the country. Everyone must unite and continue the struggle against the government to reclaim democracy,” he said.
The BNP leaders said they had asked the local authorities for a location to hold the rally. However, as the permission from the administration was not forthcoming, they decided to hold a rally at 2pm in front of the district BNP office in Shaistanagar area of the city.
Habiganj Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Masuk Ali said the BNP had no permission to hold a procession on Wednesday.
He claimed that the BNP leaders and activists attacked the police first. The law enforcers fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells in self-defense.
The fifteen injured policemen were being treated at a local hospital, the police official said.
BNP rallies held in six districts
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the party had held rallies in six districts of the country.
At an emergency press conference on Wednesday afternoon, the BNP leader alleged that unprovoked attacks were carried out on BNP rallies across the country.
Speaking at a rally in front of Nawab Bari Road in Bogra at 11am, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, a member of the party standing committee, said the movement to overthrow the government would begin if BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was not sent abroad.
He said: “People are our strength. So, build a movement in your own neighborhood. If you dare to take to the streets, the government will be forced to leave.”
At a Tangail rally, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Khaleda Zia was fighting for her life. The present government was illegally using the law to prevent her medical treatment.
He said: “We have repeatedly said that the government can allow her to go abroad based on humanitarian reasons. But they did not listen. The government will have to take the responsibility, if she dies.”
He added that a government of the people must be established through this movement.
In Dinajpur, police prevented several leaders and activists of the party from holding district rallies and processions. However, the leaders and activists still took part in the rally, the BNP said.
At the rally, BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan said there was nothing more important than human life.
BNP: 300 injured in 'police attack' on party's Habiganj rally
Hundreds of BNP leaders and activists as well as 15 policemen were injured on Wednesday in clashes between party members and law enforcers in Habiganj.
BNP leaders, including Rajib Ahmed, the organizing secretary of the district Chhatra Dal, have been sent to Dhaka in critical condition. The rest are being treated at various local clinics, sources have said.
Party leaders and activists had been gathering in front of the BNP office in Shaistanagar since morning as part of a central program to press home their demand for the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and sending her abroad for medical treatment.
The clashes broke out at 1:30pm when the BNP leaders and activists tried to break free of the police barricade. The clashes continued in phases till 2:30pm.
Party leaders cancelled their scheduled meeting in the afternoon, alleging that the police sprayed rubber bullets and tear gas shells indiscriminately on them and their activists to disrupt their pre-arranged rally.
Later, at a press conference, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said that police had provoked and attacked the BNP leaders and workers. “An unannounced curfew was imposed in Habiganj town to disrupt the rally.”
Khandaker Mosharraf, who was the chief guest of the rally, said the Awami League was afraid to deal with the BNP. That is why it (Awami League) was using the police to harass the BNP leaders.
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“The Awami League does not believe in democracy. As long as they (Awami League) are in power, democracy won’t be established in the country. Everyone must unite and continue the struggle against the government to reclaim democracy,” he said.
The BNP leaders said they had asked the local authorities for a location to hold the rally. However, as the permission from the administration was not forthcoming, they decided to hold a rally at 2pm in front of the district BNP office in Shaistanagar area of the city.
Habiganj Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Masuk Ali said the BNP had no permission to hold a procession on Wednesday.
He claimed that the BNP leaders and activists attacked the police first. The law enforcers fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells in self-defense.
The fifteen injured policemen were being treated at a local hospital, the police official said.
BNP rallies held in six districts
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the party had held rallies in six districts of the country.
At an emergency press conference on Wednesday afternoon, the BNP leader alleged that unprovoked attacks were carried out on BNP rallies across the country.
Speaking at a rally in front of Nawab Bari Road in Bogra at 11am, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, a member of the party standing committee, said the movement to overthrow the government would begin if BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was not sent abroad.
He said: “People are our strength. So, build a movement in your own neighborhood. If you dare to take to the streets, the government will be forced to leave.”
Also Read - HC likely to hear petition on Khaleda Zia’s treatment Wednesday
At a Tangail rally, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Khaleda Zia was fighting for her life. The present government was illegally using the law to prevent her medical treatment.
He said: “We have repeatedly said that the government can allow her to go abroad based on humanitarian reasons. But they did not listen. The government will have to take the responsibility, if she dies.”
He added that a government of the people must be established through this movement.
In Dinajpur, police prevented several leaders and activists of the party from holding district rallies and processions. However, the leaders and activists still took part in the rally, the BNP said.
At the rally, BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan said there was nothing more important than human life.
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