BNP-Police Clash in Ctg: 4 Cases Filed

Four cases have been filed over the clash between police and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Kazir Dewri area of Chattogram.

Zahidul Kabir, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali police station, said they filed the cases at the police station in the early hours of Tuesday against Metropolitan BNP convenor Shahadat Hossain, member secretary Abul Hashem, 90 others named and 500 unidentified people, reports UNB.

“After detaining 20 people during the clash, 16 people were shown arrested. Although drives were conducted at various places last night, no one was arrested,” said the OC.

These cases were filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act on charges of using explosives, attacking police and torching a motorcycle.

On Monday, BNP's Chattogram unit arranged a protest rally in front of the party office at Nasiman Bhaban on Monday to press home its 10-point demand and to protest electricity price hike.

When BNP leaders and activists were going to join the rally around 3:30pm, police charged batons to disperse them, triggering the clash, said Idris Ali, former organising secretary of Chattogram unit BNP.

At least 7-8 BNP activists were injured as charged batons  and fired shots, said the BNP leader.

However, Mostafizur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (South), said that police made arrangements for a peaceful rally but the BNP men attacked the police, leaving 5 policemen injured.

The BNP activists also set a police motorcycle on fire and vandalised several shops in the area during the clash, he added.