Many leaders and activists of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its movement partner, Ganatantra Mancha, on Wednesday came under police attack at the north gate area of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after holding a ‘ghayebana janaza’ for the people who were killed during clashes between Chhatra League, police and students demanding quota reform on Tuesday.
Several BNP and other opposition party leaders and activists were injured and a number of them were detained during police attack that was carried out without any provocation, BNP joint secretary general Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·.
Witnesses said that clashes broke out with the police after ending the ‘ghayebana janaza’ programme organised by the BNP and like-minded parties.
They said that it could be seen that the place was basically under the control of the police and devotees were allowed to enter Baitul Mukarram after a thorough search since 1:00pm.
They said that many opposition were detained.
After Zuhar prayers at Baitul Mukarram, the ghayebana janaza programme was held.
After that, BNP general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir addressed the gathering for a few minutes.
Ganatantra Manch leaders including Saiful Huq and Zonayed Saki wanted to enter Baitul Mukarram, but they were barred by the police.
BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu and several central leaders participated the programme.
After the prayers, Fakhrul said that the devotees were prevented from participating the ghayebana janaza.
Condemning the incident, he also said that the government could have resolved the quota issue through negotiation if they wanted.
‘People have been brutally attacked and killed without doing so,’ he added.
When Fakhrul came out of the north gate of the Baitul Mukattam, the police chased the opposition leaders and activists as some leaders and activists of Ganatantra Manch and BNP chanted slogans.
Then they started throwing brickbats targeting the police while police fired rubber bullets and dispersed the opposition activists.