Two people were killed in a clash between march demanding the ban of the annual jalsa of the Ahmadiyya community (Qadiani) in Pachagarh district. About 10 hours after the clash, the administration ordered the Qadianis to stop the jalsa.
After 8:30 pm on Friday night, Panchagarh district administration and police gave this order to close the jalsa. Meanwhile, Panchagarh Superintendent of Police (SP) SM Sirajul Huda confirmed the two deaths late at night.
He told The Report.Live on Saturday morning, “A protester, Arifur Rahman Arif (30), is among the dead. He is the son of Farman Ali of Mahila College Road area of Panchagarh. Arif is said to be an activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir. He died after being hit by bricks thrown by the worshipers in the clash. The other deceased is Zahid Hasan (22), a resident of Natore district of the Ahmadiyya community.”
Eyewitnesses said that after the Friday prayers, people came out of various mosques and gathered at Chowrangi intersection and took out a procession. When bricks were thrown from the procession, a clash broke out when the police stopped it. At one point, BGB and RAB members joined the police to control the situation. They fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets. At that time, angry people vandalized police and BGB vehicles.
Mahmud Ahmad, who works in Salana Jalsar media cell of Ahmadiyya community, said that at least 30 to 40 of their houses were set on fire in the attack-arson incident since afternoon. Many people were also injured in the attack.
Panchagarh Superintendent of Police SM Sirajul Huda said that the situation is currently under control. Considering the situation, they have been requested to stop the annual jalsa of Ahmadiyya community. They promised to stop the jalsa and go back to their homes.
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