At least 20 people including police and journalists, were injured in clashes between local leaders and activists of Awami League (AL) and BNP during Victory Day celebration in Lalmonirhat and Chuadanga on Saturday. Report our Lalmonirhat correspondent and UNB.
In Lalmonirhat, at least 13 people including two police men and two journalists were injured in a clash between the leaders and activists of AL and BNP. The incident took place at Station Road in the town centering to offer flower at the Victory Day monument.
Officer in Charge of Lalmonirhat sadar police station Mahfuzar Rahman confirmed the matter and said that extra police force was deployed in the area.
Locals said, a rally was organized from Jatiyatabadi Shramik Dal office by the district BNP in the morning and marched towards Liberation War monument. At that time fractions of Awami League obstructed the rally. Later chase and counter chase took place.
Police fired several rounds of rubber bullets to bring the situation under control. ASP (A circle) Sushanta Kumar Sarkar and SI Alamgir were hurt following the incident. Mehedi Hasan Jewel, district correspondent of Asian Television and Jinnatul Islam Jinna, correspondent of Pratidin Sangbad, got injured while performing their duties.
The two political parties took their position in two corners of the town. Extra police and RAB were deployed there. There was also mobile court in the area.
Lalmonirhat district BNP General Secretary Hafizur Rahman Babla alleged, they have attacked on our peaceful rally in a planned way.
District Sechcha Sebok League President Saiful Islam said, one worker of BNP uploaded a distorted picture of Prime Minister in Facebook. They were asked for not holding rally until the culprit is found. Rather they attacked us from the rally.
In Chuadanga, a chase and counter chase took place between leaders and activists of AL and BNP in a rally marking victory day in Dharshana area of Damurhuda upazila in the morning, leaving seven leaders and activists of the both parties injured.
Shonit Kumar Gain, officer-in-charge of Dharshana Police investigation camp, said that the victory day rally was brought out from Dharshana College field. Different organizations including AL and BNP unit of the municipal took part in the rally.
A tense situation prevailed as the leaders and activists of BNP entered the rally. At one stage, a group of BNP leaders and supporters marched ahead from the main rally.
Enraged, a section of AL leaders and activists attacked on them. Later, the chase and counter chase took place between the parties, leaving seven injured, said the OC.
However, police brought the situation under control.
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