Police-bnp clashes in 6 dists: 1 shot dead, over 200 hurt

GBNEWS24DESK//

Clashes between police and activists of BNP left one killed in Narayanganj and over 200 others injured in six districts yesterday.

BNP men clashed with law enforcers in Narayanganj, Manikganj, Natore, Netrakona, Sirajganj, and Rangpur. Party activists claimed that police barred them from holding programmes marking the party’s 44th founding anniversary.

BNP leaders said Jubo Dal activist Shaon Mahmud, 20, was killed in “police firing” in Narayanganj. Doctors said they found “bullet wounds” on Shaon’s body.

Shaon was the son of Shahed Ali of Narayanganj Sadar upazila’s Enayetnagar area.

Police claimed that it could not be known immediately how he died.

BNP yesterday announced a two-day programme protesting the killing of Shaon and the attacks on the 44th anniversary programmes across the country.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the fresh programmes while attending a demonstration in front of the party’s central office at Naya Paltan in the capital.

The party will arrange Shaon’s gayebana namaz-e-janaza after Juma prayers today.

The party will also stage demonstrations across the country on Saturday.

Yesterday’s violence comes amid a series of clashes the BNP has had with police and Awami League activists in several districts since August 22, when the party men took to the streets to protest the hike in prices of fuel and daily essentials.

In Narayanganj, the district BNP’s acting president Monirul Islam Robi said they brought out a jovial procession marking the party’s founding anniversary around 10:30am.

“No sooner had the procession reached the Rail Gate-2 area on Bangabandhu Road, police barred us. As we protested, police started truncheon-charging, firing teargas and bullets,” he said.

“Police firing left Shaon dead and at least 50, including me and other top leaders, injured. I am receiving treatment,” said Monirul.