A police constable was killed and at least 41 cops were injured in clashes between law enforcers and BNP-Jamaat men in Dhaka’s Motijheel, Kakrail and Naya Paltan areas today.
The deceased policeman was identified as Amirul Islam, 30, son of Sekandar, hailed from Charkatori village of Daulatpur upazila under Manikganj district, worked at Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of DMP.
DMCH Police Outpost in-charge, Inspector Bachchu Mia, said that a policeman injured in the clash died in Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
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Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Deputy Commissioner (Media) Faruk Hossain said that 22 injured policemen are undergoing treatment at Rajarbagh Police Hospital and 19 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
They were injured in Motijheel, Kakrail and Naya Paltan areas while on duty, Faruk Hossain added.
Earlier, 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 earlier today.
“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.
Currently, BGB members are deployed at Kakrail Church crossing.
He said police have video footage of the incidents.
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“We will identify those involved and take appropriate action,” he said.
The BNP activists who were engaged in violence escaped the scene, and the situation is now under control, he added.
Earlier, a chase and counter-chase between police and BNP leaders, activists occurred in Dhaka’s Kakrail area.
Witnesses said leaders and activists of BNP brought out a procession in the Kakrail area and started going towards InterContinental hotel around 1 pm.
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At one stage, police obstructed them, and BNP leaders, activists started throwing brick chips at the law enforcers.
Later, police fired rubber bullets, used sound grenades and tear gas shells to disperse them.