United News of Bangladesh

A Jubo Dal activist, who was shot during a clash between two factions of the BNP over the installation of Eid greeting banners in Chattogram’s Kusumbag Residential Area, succumbed to his injuries after 12 days of treatment on Thursday. The victim, Md Jihad (27), a resident of Lalkhan Bazar, passed away in the morning while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Metropolitan Hospital in the city, said Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Khulshi Police Station Aftab Hossain. Jihad was known to be a supporter of Abdul Halim Shah Alam, Joint Convener of the BNP Chattogram city unit. The clash occurred on the night of March 21 at around 8pm between supporters of Abdul Halim Shah Alam and those of Shariful Islam, Member Secretary of the Chhatra Dal city unit. According to eyewitnesses and police, the two groups clashed over the installation of an Eid greeting banner at the GEC intersection. The situation escalated into a violent confrontation in the Kusumbag area, where both sides opened fire. BNP leader-led attack in Bagerhat injures four policemen; 17 arrested Jihad, who was shot during the incident, was reportedly a follower of Anwar Shah Alam, while another injured person, Ramiz, was known to be a supporter of Shariful Islam’s faction. “A case was filed the day after the incident by the family of one of the injured victims, naming 15 to 20 accused. The investigation is ongoing,” the OC added.

A clash between two factions of the BNP erupted in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, on Thursday afternoon, leaving at least eight people injured. The violence, which involved gunfire and physical assaults, was sparked by a dispute over control of the jhut business at the Adamjee Export Processing Zone (EPZ). The situation was brought under control with the help of army personnel and local police, said Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shahinur Alam of Siddhirganj Police Station “While the situation was challenging, it was eventually brought under control with the help of law enforcement and military personnel,” he said.

A local BNP leader who was beaten up by police died from his injuries and at least 50 others from both sides were injured during a clash between cops and opposition activists in Panchagarh on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Abdur Rashid Arefin, 50, from Boda upazila. He was serving as the joint convener of Moyna Dighi Union BNP. Resident Medical Officer at Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital, Towfiq Ahmed, said an injured man named Arefin was brought to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. The precise cause of death can be confirmed after an autopsy, he said. As part of BNP’s movement for pressing home the 10-point demand it unveiled at its Dhaka divisional rally on December 10, the party's Panchagarh-based leaders and activists gathered at the local party office on Saturday around noon, said witnesses. Read more: Nayapaltan clash: HC orders giving division in jail to 5 BNP leaders Before they could bring out any procession though, the law enforcers released tear shells and fired rubber bullets to disperse the gathering, according to witnesses. Those who protested the police's actions were baton-charged. The BNP activists eventually dispersed, and then a series of chase-counterchase ensued, that continued for nearly 90 minutes. The BNP activists at this stage resorted to throwing brick chips at police.

Thirty-six policemen including the officer-in-charge of Bhola model police station were sued over the death of Swechchasebak Dal activist Abdur Rahim in ‘police firing’ during a clash between BNP activist and police. The case was filed at Senior Judicial Magistrate Ali Haider’s court on Thursday following a complaint of Abdur Rahim’s wife Khadiza Begum. Bhola Model Police station OC Arman Haque was made the main accused in the case, said the plaintiff’s lawyer Amirul Islam Baset. Also read: BNP withdraws daylong general strike after 6 hrs in Bhola According to the complaint, on July 31, Abdur Rahim was shot dead by OC Arman Hossain as a clash broke out between police and BNP activists during a demonstration of the party and its likeminded political groups against the ongoing load shedding and mismanagement in the power sector. The case was filed under section 302 and 304 of the Penal Code, he said. However, OC Arman Hossain told UNB he was not yet informed of any case filed against him in this regard. Also read: 1 killed, 30 hurt as BNP, police clash in Bhola “I was performing my duty on that day and was not intending to hurt anyone. The rally was illegal. BNP activists rather attacked police, opened fire on them and injured our members,” he said. On Sunday, as part of BNP’s countrywide demonstration programme the leaders and activists of the party gathered in front of their district party office in Bhola. At one stage, police obstructed them when they tried to stage demonstrations at Kalinath Roy Bazar around 11.30am, triggering a clash. Later, police fired bullets and lobbed teargas shells that left local Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim dead and some other leaders and activists of the party injured including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) district unit president Noor-e-Alam. Noor-e-Alam succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday at a hospital in Dhaka. On Thursday, BNP observed a 6-hour general strike in Bhola protesting the killing of the JCD leader.

At least 20 people, including policemen, were injured in a clash between BNP activists and law enforcers at Kazir Deuri area of Chattogram city on Monday. The clash broke out around 4pm and lasted for an hour. BNP activists torched several vehicles near Nasiman Bhaban. Police fired several shots to control the situation. Mohila Dal President Monowara Begum, BNP leader Akhi Sultana and 13 others were detained from the spot. Also read: Hartal: 30 hurt during clash with cops in Narayanganj BNP Office Secretary Idris Ali said BNP activists were preparing for a peaceful rally and accused police of obstructing them and firing at them as they tried to reach BNP office. Fifteen BNP activists were injured in the firing and 50 others were wounded during police action, he claimed.