1 killed, scores hurt in clashes as BNP holds countrywide anti-govt processions

The first day of the BNP's simultaneous movement to oust the government has ended in violent clashes with police, detention of party men, alleged attacks by ruling party activists, and the death of a local leader in Panchagarh.

The opposition party staged mass processions at district and metropolitan levels across the country in a bid to realise their 10-point demand announced from its mass rally in Dhaka on 10 December.

Leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, Ganatanra Mancho, the 12-party alliance, LDP and others have joined the BNP march, demanding the immediate resignation of the government, elections under a non-partisan neutral government, as well as the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other senior leaders.

A local BNP leader died in reported police firing after a clash erupted between the law enforcers and BNP men in Panchagarh's Boda upazila on Saturday afternoon, leaving more than 50 people injured.

The deceased, Abdur Rashid Arefin, was a former joint convener of the Mainadighi union BNP, confirmed BNP's acting office secretary Emran Saleh Prince.

Local BNP leaders and activists claimed that police opened fire on their procession leaving Abdur Rashid shot and injured. He was then taken to a local hospital where an on-duty physician declared him dead.

Maidandighi union BNP activist Md Matiur Rahman told The Business Standard (TBS), "Deceased Abdur Rashid Arefin is my bosom friend. We joined the procession together but Arefin got shot when the police fired rubber bullets during the clash."

Panchagarh Superintendent of Police (SP) SM Sirajul Islam, however, told TBS that the police did not fire rubber bullets but fired tear shell canisters to disperse the crowd. "We have no idea how the BNP leader died," he said.

At a press conference in BNP's Nayapaltan central office on Saturday afternoon, the party's acting office secretary Emran Saleh Prince said some 15 leaders and activists have been killed so far since the BNP launched various programmes across the country, protesting the price hike of daily commodities including oil and gas.

"The police opened fire on BNP men when they gathered at the party office in Pirojpur on Saturday. Later policemen raided the party office and beat up the district BNP convener Alamgir Hossain who was sitting inside the office with other leaders and activists," he said, adding that around 20 activists including the convener were seriously injured in police firing and attack.

The police attacked the peaceful mass processions in the Gazipur district and metropolis. BNP leaders and activists were violently attacked with batons, tear shells and sound grenades which left many activists injured. Around 30 leaders and activists were detained, Emran Saleh said.

When the Nilphamari district BNP was preparing to start their procession from the party office, the police opened fire and dispersed them. Some 10 leaders and workers were injured, he continued.

Police surrounded the residence of Ahsan Habib Kishore, acting convener of Magura district BNP, since Friday night. Two BNP activists were detained from there, the office secretary said.

The police also arrested 12 leaders and activists in Faridpur last night. Today, the pre-arranged mass procession was harshly obstructed by law enforcers, Emran Saleh told the media. 

Last Thursday night in Noakhali, the police raided the district office and arrested 17 people who were attending a preparatory meeting on the mass procession, the BNP office secretary added.

The BNP, however, did not bring out processions in the capital on Saturday. The party had deferred the Dhaka programme from 24 December to 30 December as it coincided with the ruling Awami League's 22nd national council.

At the press conference, BNP's media wing member Shahrul Kabir Khan said mass processions were successfully staged in 44 districts and cities across the country on Saturday, defying all obstacles.

However, allegations of police obstruction to BNP men attending the processions have been reported from various districts.   

Bagerhat district unit BNP alleged that leaders and activists of the Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, carried out attacks on its leaders and activists on Saturday.

Bagerhat district BNP convener ATM Akram Hossain said his residence and the party office in the Sarui area of Bagerhat city were attacked and vandalised by Chhatra League men.  

From a mass procession in Barishal, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, said, "The fascist Awami League government has remained in power by stealing votes. Now they are attempting to steal votes again but this time they will not be allowed to do that. Now the vote stealers will be caught red-handed."

Also, the leaders of the Magura and Munshiganj units BNP claimed that they could not carry out the programme because of police obstructions.

On the first day of the simultaneous movement, the Jamaat-e-Islami, along with the BNP, also held mass processions in different districts and cities of the country. 

Dozens of Jamaat leaders and activists were detained during these processions in various districts.

According to police and local sources, 16 Jamaat leaders and activists were detained in Satkhira, 12 in Joypurhat, 12 in Noakhali, 11 in Dinajpur, 8 in Natore and 14 in Cumilla.

Satkhira Jamaat-e-Islami began a mass procession at the Hatermor area of the city at 7:30 am on Saturday. Soon after it began, police dispersed the procession and detained 16 leaders and activists.

Fakhrul Alam Khan, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Satkhira Sadar Police Station, said "Jamaat-Shibir leaders and activists tried to create sabotage this morning and we have arrested 16 men. Five crude bombs were also seized from their possessions. A case is being lodged in this regard."

On Saturday afternoon, the Jamaat started a mass procession from Salahuddin Hotel on Laxam Road in Cumilla city but was obstructed by the police when it reached the Tomcham Bridge area. 

Some 12 Jamaat leaders and activists were detained by the members of the Detective Branch (DB) of the Police, confirmed Cumilla DB Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rajesh Barua.

The DB police also detained some 12 men from the Jamaat-led procession in Joypurhat sadar upazila.

Joypurhat Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Nur-e-Alam said when Jamaat leaders and activists attempted to create sabotage, police fired six blank shots and arrested 12.

Detentions ahead of the mass procession

Hordes of leaders and activists of the BNP and Jamaat were detained in Chuadanga, Nilphamari, and Noakhali districts and they were reportedly sent to jail through court.

Police claimed that many of them were accused in old cases.

According to police sources, on Thursday evening, Sudharam Police and Detective Police (DB) in Noakhali conducted a joint drive and arrested Delwar Hossain, former councillor of Ward 9 of Noakhali municipality and district Sramik Dal president, from his house. 

Around 24 leaders and activists of BNP and allied organisations including Noakhali Municipal BNP President Abu Nasher were arrested there.

Sudharam Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Anwarul Islam said all the arrested BNP leaders and activists were accused in various cases filed previously.

Chuadanga sadar upazila BNP Organising Secretary Mahbubul Islam and sadar upazila Chhatra Dal Joint General Secretary Amanullah Aman were also arrested by the police in a sabotage case on Thursday night.

In Nilphamari, the police arrested seven leaders and activists including the district Jamaat Ameer Khairul Anam on charges of holding a secret meeting on Thursday.