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.