Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) on Sunday called a half-day hartal in the district for Monday protesting the attack on their rally by BCL men that left 30 people injured.
Witnesses said a joint rally of CPB and BSD was in progress at the Court Point in the city in the afternoon.
Suddenly, the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), who were passing by the rally with a procession marking the Prime Minister’s visit to Sylhet, attacked it around 5pm.
At the least 30 people, including CPB president Mujahidul Islam Selim and officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station Akter Ahmed, were injured in the BCL attack. The rally was also foiled following the attack.
As the two left-leaning parties tried to resume their rally after the attack, the unruly activists of the ruling Awami League’s student wing launched another attack on them.
On information, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel rushed in and they along with police brought the situation under control firing over 50 blank shots and lobbing teargas shells.
Witnesses said the BCL men attacked the rally as the speakers were criticising the government.
Later, CPB district unit president Anwar Hossain Sumon announced the shutdown protesting the attack.
Meanwhile, BNP acting secretary general in a statement denounced the attack on the rally of the two left-leaning parties.
The main opposition also extended its support to Monday’s hartal.
Source: UNBConnect
“BCL men attacked the rally as the speakers were criticising the government.” They have done what they are supposed to do, i.e. attack those who would criticise the misdeeds of the AL government.