BNP men attacked police, vandalised cars in Dhaka’s Kakrail: DB says

Additional Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) Harun-or-Rashid said that some BNP activists attacked police in front of the Judges' Residence Complex in Dhaka's Kakrail today (28 October). 

"Some policemen were injured. Furthermore, they carried out an attack, vandalised and set some vehicles on fire in front of IDB Bhaban at Kakrail," he said while talking with reporters in front of Kakrail Church. 

"We will identify those involved and take appropriate action," he said, noting that police have video footage of the incidents.

Earlier, a clash broke out between the leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League and BNP at the capital's Kakrail Masjid Intersection on Saturday around 11:30am.

BNP activists and police engaged in chase and counter-chase, with law enforcers firing tear gas shells. 

The clash led to the Kakrail police box and a car being set on fire in the area.

At present, BGB members are deployed at Kakrail Church crossing.

According to eyewitnesses, the clash was sparked when a convoy led by former Gazipur mayor Mohammad Jahangir Alam was en route to Gulistan through Moghbazar. In the meantime, BNP leaders and workers had already gathered along the route from Kakrail to the Arambagh junction. The bus carrying Awami League activists was blocked from proceeding to Gulistan, sparking a clash between the two groups.

The situation escalated rapidly, prompting a swift response from the police, who deployed water cannons and a riot control vehicle and urged BNP supporters to vacate the area.

When the BNP members declined to comply with the police's request to disperse, law enforcement resorted to sound grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas to scatter the crowd, eyewitnesses said.

In response to the police action, BNP activists chased them to Minto Road near the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

This incident unfolded in front of the chief justice's residence -- which was also pelted with brickbats -- near Ramna Park in the capital. Notably, it is close to the endpoint of the BNP rally route, which is also expected to be used by Awami League members to reach their rally destination at the southern gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque.

Both sides, Awami League and BNP, were seen wielding sticks during the clash, and multiple vehicles sustained damage during the altercation.

Amid the chase and counter-chase, BNP men brought out a procession in the Kakrail area and started moving towards the InterContinental hotel around 1pm. At one stage, police obstructed them, and BNP leaders, activists started throwing brick chips at the law enforcers.

Subsequently, agitated BNP supporters vandalised the office of the Kakrail ward councillor. 

At the time, a group of individuals targeted and damaged two pickup trucks as they were passing through the Kakrail vicinity, situated across from the chief justice's residence. A  "Boishakhi Paribahan" bus also fell victim to vandalism, right in front of the International Mother Language Institute in the same area.

Earlier in the day, miscreants vandalised three vehicles in the Kakrail area. 

Today, the Awami League is scheduled to host a peace and development rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital, commencing at 2pm. Simultaneously, the BNP will conduct a mass gathering in Nayapaltan to demand the government's resignation.

Although the BNP rally is slated to commence at 2pm, party leaders and workers had been present in Nayapaltan since the preceding Friday night. Throughout the morning, BNP members from various locations flocked to Nayapaltan.

BNP men were seen taking positions along the road, stretching from Kakrail Junction to Malibagh Junction, leading to Kamalapur station.

Earlier yesterday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police gave permission to the ruling Awami League and BNP to hold their Saturday rallies at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque and Nayapaltan respectively subject to 20 conditions.