At least 10-12 BNP activists were injured in a clash between police and the party activists during their march in Kushtia on Saturday.
The identities of the injured could not be known immediately.
The clash took place in Kaburhat Sardar Para area of Bottoil Union of Sadar Upazila around 4pm on Saturday (June 8).
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Police said the BNP organised a program without taking permission in Kaburhat area on Saturday afternoon. Leaders and activists of BNP started to come to the program venue to join the rally.
Police went there on the basis of information that the BNP leaders and activists might be locked in a clash "due to their internal conflicts". Seeing the police, BNP men allegedly hurled brickbats towards the police. Police fired several rounds of bullets and tear shells to bring the situation under control, resulting in a clash between law enforcers and BNP leaders and workers
The conflict which lasted for about 30 minutes caused panic in the area.
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At one point, the leaders and activists of BNP men fled from the scene due to the strict action of the police.
Engineer Zakir Hossain Sarkar, joint secretary of the District BNP unit, said police asked them to stop the rally, citing chaos. According to him, the brickbats were thrown after police baton-charged them.
“As police charged batons, some of our activists hurdled a few brickbats towards police,” he alleged.
After that, the police fired bullets and used tear shells, leaving 10 to 12 BNP leaders and activists injured.
Sheikh Sohail Rana, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kushtia Model Police Station, said 10 rounds of bullets were fired to control the situation. “We detained one person in connection with this incident.”
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Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Palash Kanti Nath said BNP organised the program without permission.
“We have taken the necessary measures to bring the situation under control,” he said.