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| Bangladesh |
| BNP men clash with cops |
| 2010-02-19 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] BNP activists and police clashed in the city's Paltan area yesterday, leaving at least 10 people injured. Police picked up some 13 opposition workers from the scene. BNP leaders claimed cops attacked their post-rally procession without provocation, while police said they had to charge baton to disperse "unruly party activists damaging vehicles on the street". During the melee, a pedestrian named Nesaruddin, 48, was crushed to death by a private car at Paltan intersection. His brother Jahiruddin said Nesar was a lawyer's assistant and not involved in politics. Police and witnesses said after the BNP's Muktangan rally ended at around 5:30pm, some workers tried to set fire to a bus at Purana Paltan. But police charged baton and broke up the crowd. In a few minutes, tension spread to Naya Paltan where BNP men got locked in a clash with the cops. Chase and counter-chase between them went on for around 45 minutes. Stone-throwing demonstrators damaged several vehicles and tried to set three more including a police van on fire in Paltan. Vehicular movement on roads in front of BNP's Naya Paltan headquarters and adjacent areas remained suspended for over an hour. Later, BNP held a press briefing at its headquarters and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident. Party's Senior Joint Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir claimed at least 100 of their workers had been injured. "It was a planned police attack on our peaceful procession," he said. Others present at the briefing included Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque, Mahbubuddin Khokon and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia last night condemned the police attack on her party's procession and demanded immediate release of the detained activists. In a statement, she also asked the authorities to ensure proper treatment for the injured party men. "The Awami League government has not taken lesson from the past. It attacked our rallies and processions across the country," read the statement signed by Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general of the party. Khaleda, also leader of the opposition in parliament, said it [government] has no respect for the opposition. |
| Posted by:Fred |