Staff Reporter :
Over 100 people were injured in separate clashes among the activists of ruling party Awami League (AL), BNP and police in Cumilla, Feni, Pirojpur and Netrakona on Wednesday.
In Cumilla: At least 40 BNP workers and severeal police perssonnel were injured in a clash among activists of AL, BNP and police in Nangalkot upazila of Cumilla district in the morning, police said.
The injured are undergoing treatment at a local hospital, said Kazi Abdur Rahim, additional superintendent of Cumilla police.
Around 11am, BNP leaders and activists gathered near Lotus Chattar in Nangalkot Sadar to hold a rally. At the same time, Awami League leaders and activists took a place in the railway station area of Nangalkot.
Later, several chases and counter-chases and clashes took place between the activists of AL and BNP, leaving at 40 people injured. Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.
Earlier, BNP Joint Secretary Moazzem Hossain Alal, BNP Chairperson Adviser Manirul Haque Chowdhury and other central leaders went to Cumilla to attend the rally.
Manirul said, “We could not attend the rally due to the resistance of police and Awami League workers. They have foiled a peaceful programme. Such behaviour is unacceptable.”
When BNP tried to hold the rally, a clash erupted and it left some 40 BNP workers injured.
BNP blamed the Awami League for resisting their rally supported by the police.
BNP central leaders condemned the attack incidents on their workers in different parts of the country.
Besides, at least 30 people were injured when bricks were hurled by Jubo League and Chhatra League on the way to Traloryog at the BNP rally in Nesharabad, Pirojpur.
BNP workers said, BNP announced a countrywide programme protesting the recent killing of its two leaders in Bhola by police firing, price hike of daily essentials and load-shedding.
Following this programme, Nesarabad Upazila BNP arranged a rally in front of BNP office in Swarupkathi municipality area.
When several hundred BNP men who were in several trawlers reached near the Thana Ghat around 11:30pm, Chhatra League and Juba League workers led by Chhatra League upazila former General Secretary Shahidul Islam hurled brickbats at them, leaving some 30 people injured.
Pirojpur District BNP Convener Alamgir Hossain said, the BNP men were hurt by brickbats and later Awami League thrashed them with pipes and sticks. Police brought the situation under control. The injured were admitted into different clinics.
Upazila Awami League President Sayed Shahidul Ahsan said, “We don’t believe in the politics of vengeance. BNP unnecessarily tries to blame us. But when BNP men verbally attack our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, our party men will attack them. It is natural.”
On the other hand, some 30 BNP workers including police were injured during a clash with Awami League workers at Shahpur Eidgah of Changaon union of Madan Upazila in Netrakona.
The clash took place when both BNP and Awami League workers gathered at the Eidgah claiming to hold their respective programme, leaving some 30 people injured by clash and counter-clash. Later, police brought the situation under control.
