At least 12 leaders and activists of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party were injured in several attacks carried out allegedly by the ruling Awami League in Natore and Patuakhali during the BNP rallies held demanding the release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia.
聽The BNP on Wednesday held rallies at all district headquarters amid the attacks and obstruction by the leaders and activists of the ruling party.
聽The BNP on June 26 announced a three-day countrywide programme, including holding a rally in Dhaka on June 29, rallies at all metropolitan cities on July 1, and at all district headquarters on July 3, demanding the release of the BNP chairperson.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, at a press conference at Naya Paltan on Wednesday, alleged that the ruling AL鈥檚 leaders and activists carried out attacks on the BNP leaders and activists at different places during the rallies.聽
聽He said AL 鈥榤iscreants鈥� attacked BNP leaders and activists at Natore with sharp weapons when they were gathering to hold a rally demanding the release of Khaleda Zia.
聽Rizvi said that a number of leaders and activists, including BNP forest and environment affairs secretary and former Rajshahi city mayor Mosaddeq Hossain Bulbul and Natore district BNP acting convener Shahidul Islam Bachchu were seriously injured in the attacks.
He also alleged that AL 鈥榤iscreants鈥� attacked a procession of BNP leaders and activists on the way to join a rally arranged by Patuakhali district BNP that left a number of party members injured.
聽Rizvi also alleged that the party people also faced obstruction by police and AL people while holding the rally at Bagerhat.
Our Rajshahi correspondent reported that at least seven leaders of the BNP were injured in several attacks carried out allegedly by the leaders and activists of the AL in Natore town on Wednesday.
The injured are BNP forest and environment affairs secretary Mohammad Mossaddeq Hossain Bulbul, Natore district BNP convener Shahidul Islam Bachhu, Natore district Sramik Dal office secretary Rafiqul Islam, Natore municipality Swechchhasebok Dal convener Sabbirul Islam Chapal, Natore municipality Swechchhasebok Dal member secretary Mizanur Rahman Mizan, Natore municipality ward 5 BNP unit general secretary Mashiur Fedous Hitlu, and Dighapatia union Swechchhasebak Dal president Saiful Islam.
Among the injured, five are taking treatment at different hospitals in Natore, while Shahidul Islam Bachhu was referred to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University by the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital authorities as he was beaten and hacked randomly all over the body and the wrist of his right hand was almost severed.
Rahim Newaz, member secretary of Natore district BNP, told 抖阴精品 that 鈥楢L terrorists鈥� beat and hacked six party leaders on their way to the rally venue.
He also said that a group of AL and Juba League activists also attacked their rally, leaving chief guest Mohammad Mossaddeq Hossain Bulbul injured.
鈥楢L terrorists opened fires and exploded cocktails targeting the rally and foiled our peaceful programmes. They also beat up our several leaders and activists with iron rods and pipes, and threw brickbats at them in front of the police,鈥� he said.
However, Shariful Haque Ramzan, general secretary of Natore district unit of AL, denied the BNP leaders鈥� allegation.
Tariqul Islam, superintendent of Natore district police, said that miscreants carried out attacks on BNP leader Shahidul Islam Bachchu and three people on their way to the scheduled rally.
鈥榃e have identified those involved in the attack. The accused will be brought under the law only if a case is filed on behalf of the injured,鈥� he added.
抖阴精品 Patuakhali correspondent reported that miscreants attacked the protest rally organised by Patuakhali district BNP unit demanding release of Khaleda Zia that left five leaders and activists injured.
The attack took place on Swanirbhar road at around 10:00am on Wednesday at Patuakhali town.
Md Shakeel Mia, joint convener of Rangabali upazila Swechchhasebok Dal, was admitted to Patuakhali Medical College Hospital with serious injury聽and the other injured have been admitted to different clinics, said district BNP member secretary Snehanshu Sarkar Kutty.
The BNP leaders claimed that AL people attacked with sharp weapons and batons on their way to join the rally.
However, AL president Kazi Alamgir rejected the allegation and said that no leader-activist of AL attacked BNP people; it is an internal conflict of BNP.
Officer-in-charge of Patuakhali Sadar police station Md Jasim said, 鈥榃e have not been able to identify the attackers so far. However, the situation was immediately brought under control, and the rally was held peacefully.鈥�