Staff Reporter :At least 50 persons, including a ruling party MP, were injured in a violent clash between BNP men and Bangladesh Chhatra League activists near Bakshibazar Makeshift Court in Old Dhaka just before BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was about to appear before the Court in two graft cases on Wednesday.The BNP activists, who were waiting outside the court set up on Alia Madrasa ground, at first came under attack by BUET [Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology] Chhatra League activists in Palashi area in presence of the law enforcers. Earlier, the BNP men and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal [JCD] took out a procession at around 12.15pm. The procession was intercepted by the BCL men at Bakshibazar intersection. Being chased, the BNP activists ran towards the BUET campus. But the BNP men were intercepted again, which ignited the violent clash between the two opponent political groups. At that time, the two groups attacked each other using bamboo and wooden sticks, iron rods and other non-lethal weapons. They also hurled brick chips at each other. Ten to twelve crude bombs were blasted during the clash. Later, the clash spread to the whole area. Entire Baksibazar, Nazimuddin Road, Palashi, Chankarpul and DMCH [Dhaka Medical College and Hospital] areas turned into a battle field when two sides attacked each other chanting slogans on behalf of their respective parties.The panic stricken people, mostly pedestrians, started running helter and skeltor for safety during the clash. The shops and other establishments on both sides of the road were shut fearing arson and looting. Besides, the movement of vehicles of all modes was also stopped in the area. Witnesses said that at least 10 persons were beaten with sticks on the road during chase and counter-chase. A huge contingent of police rushed to the spot, but they did not intervene immediately. Sometime later, they charged baton, lobbed tear gas canisters and fired blank shots to disperse the fighting groups. The BNP activists then left the spot and moved towards Chankarpul area cooling down the situation for the time being.In the meanwhile, Khaleda Zia headed for the court from her Gulshan residence at around 11.30am. Amid the clash, she appeared before the Third Special Judge’s Court at about 12:30 pm in the hearing of two graft cases against her.As Khaleda Zia’s motorcade arrived at the court premises, a group of BNP activists with sticks escorted the party chief’s car to the court. Police charged baton indiscriminately on BNP supporters who were trying to enter the court premises along with their party chief.Being intercepted, the BNP supporters began to hurl stones at the law enforcers. In this situation, the Court Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar deferred the hearing and set January 7 for the next hearing as Khaleda’s lawyer pleaded for more time.But BNP activists continued their agitation even as the court proceedings began. They set fire to a motorcycle at the Chankarpul area and started to move towards the Dhaka Medical College Hospital [DMCH] when the police dispersed them by using water cannon and tear gas canisters.Local sources said the clash broke out again at around 12:10am when a group of BCL activists had blocked a procession brought out by the BNP men at Fazle Rabbi Hall intersection of DMCH before Khaleda Zia reached the court area.Several BNP men who went to DMCH to get treatment were beaten and driven away from hospital by ruling party activists. Both the confronting sides were locked in a clash again at DMCH premises. The ruling party MP from Chhobi Biswas [Netrokona-1] was injured when assailants beat him in front of the DMCH and set his car on fire. He suffered injuries on the head. Police rushed him to the DMCH. “I came here to check on a freedom-fighter who now receiving treatment. Mymensingh unit Krishak League joint secretary Dulal was also injured as he got out of the car,” said Chhabi Biswas. The clashes at Bakshibazar, Nazimuddin Road, Palashi and Chankarpul area continued for more than one and a half hour until Khaleda Zia left the court for her Gulshan residence around 1.30pm.Earlier on December 18, the government appointed Judge Abu Ahmed Jamaddar after transferring Judge Bashudev Roy, who had been dealing with the two corruption cases against Khaleda and eight others following Khaleda’s repeated requests to the High Court.On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources. Another graft case relating to transactions of Zia Orphanage [named after Khaleda’s husband Ziaur Rahman, the former President who founded BNP] was also filed by ACC on July 3, 2008.
