Around 50 people sustained injuries yesterday evening in a clash between the students of a local madrasa in the capital’s Tajmahal Road and the followers of “Haider Baba” alias “Haata Baba,” who recently passed away.
Hundreds of people from both the groups locked into clash which suspended vehicular movements on all roads in and around the area. This resulted in severe traffic congestion.
Police fired shots and charged batons to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control. Additional police were deployed in the area to avert further clashes, though a tense situation prevailed among people of both groups.
Police and witnesses said the clash had erupted when the madrasa students opposed a move of the followers of “Haata Baba” concerning the arrangement of a function near his grave on Tajmahal Road in the evening.
Several hundred people got embroiled in the clash that began around 6pm and ended around 8:30pm.
Carrying sticks and sharp weapons, followers of “Haata Baba” and madrasa students pelted brick chips at each other. There were also chases and counter-chases between them.
Biplab Sarkar, deputy commissioner of Tejgaon zone, said the clash ensued an argument between the followers of “Haata Baba” and the madrasa students.
“The clash turned violent as most of the followers of ‘Haata Baba’ were the residents of the Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur,” said the DC.
He said police charged batons and fired shots to bring the situation under control. “As the incident involved religious issue, police had to deal it with great caution so that the religious sentiment is not hurt.”
He said they had no information of anyone sustaining injuries. None was arrested and no case was filed.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
