Staff Reporter :
At least 25 people were injured in a clash between the activists of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the ruling Awami League (AL) in the capital’s Hazaribagh area on Monday.
The clash took place around 2:55pm at Tally office Road in the area.
According to locals, the AL supporters, wielding sticks, took a stand at the Tally office intersection in Hazaribagh to resist a pre-scheduled rally of BNP to protest against the increase in price of essentials, fuel and killing of its four party men in Bhola, Narayanganj and Munshiganj in police firing.
Besides, BNP supporters, wielding sticks and flags, brought out a procession to join the rally.
The clash ensued when AL supporters barred BNP men to join to the rally. Both groups engaged in a chase and counter-chase and beat their opponents with sticks, leaving 25 injured.
Later, the police rushed the spot and brought the situation under control.
After the clash, the ruling party men took a position at the Tally Office intersection behind a police barricade.
Earlier, the BNP rally was supposed to be held at Shankar Bus Stand in Dhanmondi. But the venue was, later, shifted next to Shikdar Medical College Hospital as police imposed a restriction on political programmes in the area following a similar programme announced by the ruling party.
As part of the party’s plan to hold 16 rallies in the capital, BNP’s Dhanmondi zone announced to hold the rally yesterday.
However, the BNP’s rally held peacefully in a field near Sikdar Medical College Hospital at Hazaribagh after the clash was over.
BNP leaders and activists joined the rally in processions. The law enforcers also put up a barricade around the rally venue to prevent a further untoward situation.
BNP south city unit convener Abdus Salam told media that Awami League ‘cadres’ attacked their party men with an aim to foil the rally, but they failed to do so due to the strong resistance by the opposition activists.
He claimed at least 15 leaders of activists of their party were injured in the clash while police arrested several BNP supporters. Jahangir Alam, an AL supporter, said at least 10 ruling party activists were injured as BNP followers attacked them with sticks on their way to the rally.
