20 policemen injured in clash with BNP activists

At least 20 policemen were injured as they were allegedly attacked by BNP leaders and activists during a sit-in programme held without permission from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) at the different entry points of the capital on Saturday.

Police arrested at least 90 opposition activists during Saturday’s hours-long protest announced by BNP’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir from a rally at Naya Paltan on Friday. The BNP has been demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to allow the installation of a caretaker government to oversee next general elections.
On Saturday, the protesters set buses on fire and exploded cocktails, said Faruk Hossain, DMP deputy commissioner for media.

Among the injured, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic-South) SM Mehedi Hasan and Sub-Inspector (SI) Nahid of Sutrapur Police Station were undergoing treatment for serious injuries.

Faruk said that BNP leaders and activists armed with sticks started gathering at Gabtoli, Abdullahpur, Dholaikhal, Uttara and Matuail points from 11am on Saturday. At one point, the party leaders and activists blocked all the important roads. When the police tried to remove them to ease traffic movement and public suffering, they started throwing stones at the police and their vehicles.

"They detonated cocktails in different parts of the capital. In many places, cars were vandalised and vehicles set on fire. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control. At least 90 people were arrested from the illegal rally," the deputy commissioner added.