Photo: Courtesy
Metropolis Report-
As the BNP observes a sit-in program at the major entry gates to the capital, several BNP leaders and activists have been hurt in fights with police in the capital’s Dholaikhal, Matuail, Uttara, and Gabtoli regions today.
According to sources, there have also been several BNP individuals apprehended in those places.
Police and party members chased and re-chased one another. To disperse the protestors and calm the situation, law enforcement officers used tear gas shells.
Around 11:30 am, conflicts between police and BNP activists broke out in Dholaikhal and Matuail. For almost 45 minutes, there were constant fights, during which numerous BNP men were hurt.
Another altercation in Gabtoli resulted in a couple more party members being hurt.
At 1:00 pm, several vehicles, including a police van, were vandalized and set on fire in the Shyamoli neighborhood of Dhaka. A bus from Welcome Paribahan, a motorcycle, and a police pick-up van were set on fire by a spontaneous procession outside the Shyamoli Shishu Mela while yelling pro-BNP chants. Additionally, they damaged a dozen buses and motorcycles.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir proposed yesterday sit-ins at all significant entry points of the capital to further drive home the party’s one-point demand. He announced a sizable grand rally at the city’s Nayapaltan.
From 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, the BNP planned to observe sit-ins.
As Dhaka Metropolitan Police announced last night that it would not permit the BNP to hold sit-ins, several police officers were stationed in various areas of the capital.
