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.
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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.
Another BNP activist killed during clash with police
It was only after additional backup forces arrived in the evening, that the police were able to finally take control of the situation well after 6pm.
District BNP convener Zahirul Islam Kachchu claimed they were planning to hold a peaceful rally when police arrived and ratcheted up the tension
“They dispersed us by firing tear gas, lathi charge and rubber bullets leaving BNP leader Arefin dead and around two hundred activists injured,” he alleged.
Kachchu demanded a judicial inquiry into the police action against what was planned to be a peaceful rally.
Arefin would become the 8th BNP leader/activist killed at the hands of police since the party started holding a series of rallies and demonstrations starting in August, including the 10 large divisional rallies and smaller ones in district towns such as the one in Panchagarh today. Police however have not owned up to the killings.
Read more: 1 killed in police-BNP clash at Nayapaltan; Over 150 leaders, activists held
Panchagarh Superintendent of Police SM Sirajul Huda held a press briefing in the evening, where he denied the allegation and claimed Arefin was a cardiac patient and died of a heart attack. He also claimed there were no signs of injury on Arefin’s dead body, and his postmortem will be done on Sunday.
“Police were forced to fire the tearshells and rubber bullets for their safety, as BNP activists vandalised public property and attacked police,” SP Huda said.
Among the injured, some 25 are opposition activists, while 12 are from police, SP Huda disclosed.
He said a case will be filed against the BNP activists for attacking police, obstructing government activity and damaging public property.
Source: United News of Bangladesh