At least one person was killed and several hundreds were injured in violent clashes across the country as leaders and activists of Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took to the streets across the country in a show of force ahead of the next general election.

A young man was killed and 50 people were injured in sporadic clashes between leaders and activists of BNP and Awami League in Laxmipur district town on Tuesday.

According to Mahfuzzaman Ashraf, superintendent of Laxmipur police, both BNP and Awami League brought out processions across the city. 

Also read: Not a victory march, it’s a defeat march: Quader on BNP’s program 

At 4 pm, the procession of BNP and Awami League mingled at Samad Academy intersection. At one stage, the BNP men tore down banners of Awami League, triggering a chase and counter chase.

The BNP men, numbering 30/40, chased some 15/20 men of Awami League, forcing them to take shelter in a building inside Madin Ullah Housing.

Sajib of Chandraganj was found lying on the ground floor of the building, and he died due to profuse bleeding, police said quoting locals.

Also read: Quit now, people don’t want to see you in power anymore: Fakhrul asks govt

Earlier on Tuesday, BNP's Dhaka march for its one-point demand came under attack near Mirpur's Govt Bangla college.

As part of their one-point movement, BNP started a march towards Old Dhaka from Gabtoli Bus Station around 11:20 am.

Also read: 50 injured in AL, BNP, police clash in Feni

When the march reached near the college in Mirpur around 11:45 am, some youths attacked them, resulting in a clash, witnesses said.

In Khagrachhari, activists of Awami League and BNP locked in clashes, causing injuries to over a hundred people. 

Khagrachari BNP General Secretary MN Absar said, “More than 50 leaders and activists were hurt and the BNP office was vandalised as Awami League activists attacked us when we attempted to march in accordance with the central program. Later, BNP activists fought back.”

Also read: BNP’s march: 50 hurt in clash with police in Bogura

Khagrachari AL General Secretary Nirmalendu Chowdhury said, “The BNP cadres attacked us with sticks when we were on our way to take part in the ‘development procession’. They vandalised numerous commercial buildings, including the municipality building of Khagrachari. More than 50 leaders and activists of AL were hurt. Police played a passive role when we requested assistance.”

“I made multiple phone calls to the District Commissioner and the Police Superintendent. However, the administration did nothing,” said the AL leader.

Meanwhile in Pirojpur, police and BNP activists locked in clashes during the party’s one-point march in the town’s Circuit House area. 

Also read: AL's procession to counter BNP rally ends on day one

At least 7 police officers were injured. Six people were arrested for allegedly attacking the police. 

District BNP convener Alamgir Hossain, however, said 10-12 activists of BNP and its affiliates were injured after police charged batons.

Several BNP activists and journalists were injured in a clash between police and the party activists during their march in Kishoreganj on Tuesday.

Daily Manab Zamin's staff reporter Ashraful Islam, Channel 24's district correspondent Alam Faisal, district Jubo Dal general secretary Abdullah Al Masud Sumon, organizing secretary Tarekuzzaman, and Chhatra Dal leader Tripti were among the injured.

Also read: Police-BNP activists clash in Kishoreganj; several activists, journalists injured

Violent clashes erupted between Awami League, BNP supporters and police in several other districts including Bogura, Feni and Joypurhat. 

At least 50 leaders and activists of BNP were injured in clashes with police during their march in Bogura district town on Tuesday.

As part of BNP’s scheduled march programme, leaders and activists brought out a procession which resulted in a chase and counter-chase between police and BNP men.

Police lobbed tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets to disperse them, leaving  50 people injured.

Also read: BNP activists, police clash in Pirojpur

Six policemen were among the injured, said Sudip Kumar Chakrawarty, superintendent of district police.

At least 50 people were injured in a clash among the leaders and activists of BNP and Awami League and police during BNP’s march at Islampur Road in Feni district town on Tuesday.

In Joypurhat, At least 45 people, including leaders and activists and policemen, were injured in a clash between the Awami League and BNP supporters.

Also read: Those who burnt motorcycle during BNP's Dhaka march to be punished: DB chief

Both BNP and Awami League brought out processions in different parts of Dhaka on Tuesday (July 18, 2023).

As part of their one-point movement, thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the march towards Bahadur Shah Park in the old part of Dhaka from Gabtoli Bus Station.

The march reached Bahadur Shah Park around 5:45 pm and it was concluded after a brief rally there.

Calling their march a “journey to victory,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir reiterated his call for the government’s resignation and urged the ruling Awami League to dissolve the parliament by handing over power to a “neutral” government. 

Also read: Over 100 injured in AL-BNP clashes in Khagrachhari

Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader called BNP’s road march “a march towards defeat.”

The Road, Transport and Bridges Minister stressed that Sheikh Hasina will perform her duties as the head of the government during election as is the norm in other democracies of the world.  

Also read: BNP’s Dhaka march comes under attack near Mirpur Bangla college