BNP, AL men clash in Dhaka’s Pallabi

Separate rallies held by Awami League and BNP in close proximity escalated into a skirmish in Dhaka's Pallabi area on Thursday afternoon.

Police intervened with tear shells and rubber bullets to disperse the agitating protesters, said Officer-in-Charge of Pallabi Police Station Parvez Islam. However, no casualty was reported.

BNP called a rally at Mukul Fauj ground on Thursday to protest the commodity price hikes. 

The Awami League organised a mourning rally for recently deceased leader Sajeda Chowdhury at an adjacent Eidgah field.    

The OC said tension escalated as Awami League and BNP men went to the venues with processions.

"While the two sides were making their way to the rallies, someone from the BNP group threw a brick chip at Awami League men prompting the violence," the OC claimed.

However, BNP's Dhaka Metropolitan (North) Convenor Amanullah Aman alleged BNP did not attack anyone. Rather, the leaders and activists of the ruling party attacked the BNP with the help of police.

Police intervention transformed the clash into a tripartite one, blocking off regular traffic flow and forcing local stores to shutter.

The Awami League meeting started around 2:30 pm and ended at around 4 pm. But the BNP crowd never returned after dispersing.

Pallabi OC Parvez in the afternoon said the situation was under control.