Police on Wednesday obstructed demonstration of Bangladesh Nationalist Party protesting against issuance of arrest warrant against party chairperson Khaleda Zia.
At least 30 leaders and activists of BNP were injured in clash with police in Noakhali town on Wednesday.
The hour-long clash that took place in Rashid Colony area since 11:00am, erupted centring the procession bought out by the BNP supporters as part of its central programme aiming to protest the issuance of arrest warrant for the party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, in what it said a ‘false and politically vindictive’ case.
Witnesses said police intercepted the procession triggering an altercation with BNP activists.
At one stage, the BNP activists pelted bricks at police and vandalised a vehicle of the law enforcers.
Police also fired rubber bullets and teargas shells to disperse the activists and bring the situation under control.
Noakhali BNP joint secretary Liakat Ali Khan said at least 30 leaders and activists became injured in police attack.
Police also arrested 13 leaders and activists of the party including its central leader Mahbub Alamgir Alo, also the president of Noakhali district unit Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal, the youth front of BNP.
Abu Hasan Noman, organising secretary of the district unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, a student wing of BNP, said they brought out a peaceful procession but police carried out attack on them without any provocation.
Noman was also among the injured.
Sudharam police officer-in-charge Anwar Hossain said the BNP activists threw bricks at police from the procession compelling the law enforcers to fire rubber bullets and teargas shells.
Several people were arrested as they barred police to maintain law and order, the police official added.
In Barisal, BNP activists brawled with police as they barred them to bring out a procession from Ashwini Kumar Hall.
Barisal district north and south units and Barisal city unit BNP held a rally at Ashwini Kumar Hall premises. After the rally they tried to bring out procession and police barred them.
The BNP on Monday announced countrywide demonstrations for today to protest the court order over Khaleda’s arrest warrant.
A Comilla court on Monday issued an arrest warrant against Khaleda Zia and 77 others in a case of arson attack that killed eight people and injured 20 others in February 2015 during BNP-led 20-party alliance’s anti-government agitations.
Source: New Age
