Police chased and clashed with leaders and activists before and after the BNP rally in the capital. Several people, including eight policemen, were injured. At least 50 people have been detained. The Press Club compound turned into a battlefield.
BNP-nominated mayoral candidate of Dhaka South City Corporation Ishraq Hossain snatched a bloody Chhatra Dal leader who was injured in the incident.
Clashes between BNP activists and police on Saturday (February 13th) made Topkhana Road so turbulent.
BNP standing committee member at 12 noon. When Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain was speaking, the leaders and activists started leaving the rally place before the end of the speech seeing the presence of police in the area. At that time, a piece of brick thrown by BNP workers from inside the press club hit a policeman on the head. This was followed by chases and brickbats.
At one stage of throwing brickbats, the police started baton charging. Other leaders including Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain entered the press club. After about half an hour the situation calmed down.
The clashes erupted on Saturday (February 13th) morning before the rally began. Though the rally was scheduled to start at 10 am, the leaders and activists gathered in front of the press club. When the police asked them to leave the road to keep the traffic normal, there were chases and clashes with the leaders and activists.
Police say the activists were attacked as they tried to calm the unrest and keep the law and order situation normal. And this is the deterioration of the situation.
Meanwhile, the BNP has demanded the arrest of several leaders and activists from the spot. Standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain spoke to the media after the clash. He alleged that the police attacked without provocation.
The member of the party's standing committee instructed the leaders and workers to be ready to retaliate if they were injured in a speech given at the rally earlier.
Several policemen and BNP leaders and activists were injured in the clash. The BNP organized the rally in front of the National Press Club to protest the decision of the late Ziaur Rahman, the founder of the BNP, to cancel the title of Bir Uttam.