Leaders and activists of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party staged demonstrations on Friday to protest the attack on the party鈥檚 Natore district unit convener Shahidul Islam Bachchu, allegedly by a group of the ruling Awami League supporters on Wednesday.
Over 100 people, under the banner of Baraigram upazila BNP, brought out a protest procession and held a brief rally in front of Bonpara fire service in the upazila at 8:00am.
Addressing the rally, Baraigram upazila BNP convener Abdul Kader Mia accused the AL activists of hacking and injuring seven of their leaders, including Shahidul Islam Bachchu, in broad daylight and in front of the police.
鈥業nstead of the AL criminals, the police are arresting our party leaders and activists, who are protesting against this brutal attack. We protest against police harassment. Our leader is fighting for his life, and we cannot stay at home. The police are constantly going to our houses and harassing us,鈥� he alleged.
The BNP leaders urged law enforcers to identify and arrest those responsible for beating and
hacking their party leaders, rather than harassing them.
Among others, upazila BNP acting member secretary Ali Akbar, joint-conveners Sajdar Rahman and Abdus Salam Molla, and upazila Swechchhasebak League convener Mizanur Rahman Mizan spoke at the rally.
On Wednesday, a group of AL activists reportedly beat and hacked Natore district BNP convener Shahidul Islam Bachchu, while he was heading to the party office to attend a rally, demanding the release of Khaleda Zia.
A group of AL and Juba League activists also beat up five other BNP leaders on their way to the rally and attacked the rally, leaving chief guest and forest and environment affairs secretary of the party Mohammad Mossaddeq Hossain Bulbul injured.
Among the injured, five were admitted to different hospitals in Natore, while Shahidul Islam Bachchu was referred to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University by the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital authorities. He had been beaten and hacked all over his body, and the wrist of his right hand was nearly severed.