Four policemen were injured as activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamaat’s student front Islami Chhatra Shibir attacked the law enforcers in Shalbagan area of Rajshahi city yesterday.
The injured are Constables Amzad Hossain and Shafikul Islam, Sub-Inspector Jahangir Shah Makhdum and police van driver Moinul Islam.
Amzad and Shafikul are undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). While, Jahangir and Moinul took primary treatment at the hospital, police said.
A clash ensued between the law enforcers and Jamaat-Shibir activists when they brought out a procession in support of the blockade enforced by BNP-led 20 party alliance in Shalbagan area around 10:15am, they said.
The pickets started demonstration by setting tyres on fire on the highway in front of Alif Lam Mim brick kiln.
The Shibir men attacked a police van which was patrolling the area as the law enforcers from Shah Makhdum police station tried to bring the situation under control, according to police.
At one stage, the attackers hit the heads of Amzad and Shafikul with bricks chips. They also snatched the gun from Shafikul and left it after beating him with the gun, they said.
Later, a patrolling Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) rushed to the spot and rescued the policemen. However, the Shibir men managed to flee the scene.
Ifte Khayer Alam, additional police commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) and also its spokesperson, told the Dhaka Tribune that they arrested six people from nearby areas on charge of their involvement in the attacks.
However, local administration has imposed the section 144 on any political programmes at Baneshwar, Belpukur and Shibpurhat under Puthia upazila in Rajshahi for indefinite period to avoid any untoward situation after the death of a pro-blockade activist on Monday.
Khandaker Farhad Ahmed, the UNO of Puthia upazila, said a tense situation was prevailing in the areas.
Earlier on Monday afternoon, a BNP activist was killed, after police opened fire when leaders and activists of BNP and its alliances brought a procession at Baneshwar Bazaar.
The deceased was identified as Mazir Uddin, 45, of Maria village of Shalua union under Charghat upazila.
However, a down-to-dusk hartal called by BNP is also underway in Rajshahi in protest of the death. The countrywide blockade programme is also underway in Rajshahi.
