There was no attack on the official residence of Barishal Sadar upazila UNO Wednesday and posters and banners were being removed as part of routine activity of the city corporation staff, according to Barisal district and metropolitan units of the Awami League (AL).
More than 60 Awami League leaders and activists and city corporation staff were shot as the law enforcers opened fire under the direction of the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) on Wednesday. However, the situation did not require shooting, the AL units said Thursday.
The AL leaders said this to the media at Barishal City Corporation Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah’s residence in the city while demanding the removal of Barishal Sadar UNO Munibur Rahman and the release of arrested AL activists. However, the mayor was not present at that time.
General Secretary of Barishal district unit AL Talukdar Md Younus said legal actions would be taken over the incident on behalf of the party.
Meanwhile, Barishal City Corporation Mayor Sadiq had been made the primary accused in two cases filed over violence in the city Wednesday night.
UNO Munibur and Sub-Inspector Shahjalal Mallick were the plaintiffs in the cases, accusing the mayor and his men of obstruction of government work and attempt to murder.
“As many as 94 activists of the ruling party and its affiliate organisations were accused in the cases,” said Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Model Police Station Nurul Islam.
Meanwhile, police arrested 13 AL activists and the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) from different parts of the city in connection with the two cases filed over the attack on the residence of the UNO.
The clash broke out between the supporters of the AL, BCL and members of Ansar when the former tried to attack the residence of the UNO at Sadar Upazila Complex in Barishal Wednesday night. Five people suffered bullet wounds during the clash.
According to witnesses, the city corporation staff went to the residence of UNO Munibur to lower a banner hanging over the area.
At one stage, the UNO came out and enquired about the matter, leading to a verbal altercation between him and Swapan Kumar Das, a city corporation staff.
During this time, some 25-30 people entered the complex, and a scuffle broke out between Ansar and the mob, triggering a clash. At one stage, the Ansar members opened fire on them.
On information, police rushed to the spot and charged batons to disperse the mob.
Some 25 people were injured in the clashes with the police and Ansar.
Source: United News of Bangladesh