Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj :
A case has been filed against 1,500 BNP men in connection with a clash with BNP activists and police in Kishoreganj’s Pakundia on Saturday that left some 100 people injured.
Pakundia upazila unit BNP Convener Advocate Jalal Uddin has been made prime accused in the case.
Md Al-Amin Hossain, additional superintendent (Sadar circle) of Kishoreganj police confirmed the news on Sunday.
Shah Kamal, sub-inspector of Pakudia Police Station, filed the case under the Anti-terrorism Act against 139 named people including Jalal Uddin and some 1,361 unnamed people last night, the additional SP said.
Already 23 accused have been arrested from different areas, the police official added.
On Saturday, BNP workers organised a rally at Pakundia Bazar in Patmahal area protesting the price hike of fuel and other essential commodities and the killing of three leaders in Bhola and Narayanganj.
Later, BNP leaders and activists tried to enter the upazila headquarters from Saigaon with a protest march. When police intercepted BNP activists, clashes ensued among them that lasted for three hours.
At one stage, police started charging batons; the BNP men retaliated by hurling brickbats. Police later fired rubber bullets and tear shell canisters to disperse the BNP men.
Md Al Amin Hossain, additional superintendent of police (Kishoreganj Sadar Circle) said although there was no permission for a rally, BNP men brought out processions in Pakundia municipal areas and began marching towards the main roads of the municipality around 11:00 am. When police asked them to stop, they started throwing brickbats at them, followed by chases and counter chases.
At one stage, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters to bring the situation under control, said the ASP.
Besides, there were also sporadic clashes between BNP and AL men in different areas under the municipality.
Md Kamal Uddin, a local BNP leader, alleged that police attacked the BNP men without any provocation while they were holding peaceful rallies and some 100 activists were injured in the police action.
