Fierce clashes in capital city as opposition siege brings life to a standstill
Saturday October 28, 2006
Young man killed in clashes in capital as rival political activists take to street
Police use tear gas, rubber bullets in Paltan area to disperse opposition activists
Violence erupts at places ahead of power handover to caretaker govt
BNP, Jamaat leaders among four killed
Transport movement disrupted following 14-party’s road blockade programme
14-party block Dhaka-Maowa highway causing immense sufferings to Dhaka-bound people
Deadlock over takeover by caretaker government persists
An unidentified young man was killed during clashes between rival political groups in Paltan areas of the capital today (Saturday), as the deadlock over takeover by caretaker government persisted.
His body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. His identity was not known immediately, hospital sources said.
The DMCH sources said more than 60 people were admitted into the hospital till 2pm, as the heart of the capital wore the looks of a battlefield.
Capital Dhaka has become virtually isolated as the opposition
laid siege across the country from today (Saturday) to protest former Chief Justice KM Hasan’s planned takeover as chief advisor of interim caretaker government.
About 150 people were so far injured in scattered clashes in Dhaka and other cities till Saturday noon.
Although Justice Hasan is not to take oath today for his “sickness” according to a statement of Bangabhaban spokesman, the Awami League-led 14-party combine enforced the siege disrupting road communication between Dhaka and rest of the country.
Militant opposition activists occupied the entire Gulistan and Bangabandhu Avenue areas and fought sporadic pitched battles with the law enforcers from the morning, leaving at least 15 people wounded.
Police kept encircled the Paltan Maidan where the opposition was scheduled to hold a rally at noon today.
Witnesses said thousands of Awami League workers, many with sticks and oars, were parading the streets chanting anti-Khaleda and
anti-Hasan slogans.
Opposition workers from different parts of the city marched towards Paltan Maidan. Several thousand processionists, led by Ilias Mollah and Kamal Majumdar, proceeded from Mirpur to Paltan.
Supporters of BNP and Awami League clashed at Abdullahpur on Dhaka-Maowa Road at about 11 am leaving at least 85 people wounded from both sides.
UNB correspondents reported that supporters of Awami League and BNP, equipped with sticks and guns, clashed in different places, including Sylhet, Chittagong and Gopalganj.
In Sylhet, at least 20 people were injured following a clash between BNP and AL supporters.
In Chittagong, normal life was paralyzed in the wake of the opposition’s agitation. Police occupied Laldighi Maidan where Awami League was scheduled to hold a rally today.
Police use tear gas, rubber bullets in Paltan area to disperse opposition activists
Thousands of opposition workers clashed with riot
police in Bangabandhu Avenue and Paltan area of the city that injured scores of people, including police and journalists.
Witnesses said police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the brick-throwing protestors who tried to enter the Paltan Maidan to hold a scheduled rally defying the police ban. The protestors burned a police car at the south gate of Bangabandhu Stadium.
The clash ensued when a procession of Awami League came from Jatrabari and tried to break the police barricade near the Hockey Stadium at about 11:45 am.
Later, the clash spread to Bangabandhu Avenue, Zero Point, Muktangan and north gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque. Police used 40-50 rounds of tear gas shells and rubber bullets to control the situation. The opposition workers re-occupied the Bangabandhu Avenue at about 12:45 pm.
Witnesses said the AL workers also clashed with Jamaat activists at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque where Jamaat was scheduled to
hold a rally this (Saturday) afternoon.
20 injured in AL-BNP-Police clash in Pabna; Traffic disrupted for road blockade
At least 20 people, including police, were injured in a triangular clash of Awami League, BNP and police on Abdul Hamid road in the Pabna town Saturday noon.
Locals said the clash first broke out between Awami League and BNP activists when processions of both the rival parties came face to face on the road at about 12.45pm.
Police charged baton on the activists of the two parties, triggering a triangular fight that left 20 people injured. The district unit organising secretary of BNP and several police were among the injured.
Police fired 10 teargas shells on the demonstrators to bring the situation under control. Five bombs were exploded during the clash that continued till filing of this report.
Meanwhile, movement of vehicles was disrupted in the district as the activists of the 14-party combine put
barricade at different points of the district in the morning as part of their countrywide agitation programme.
They also damaged a number of buses and trucks in Pakshey area.
AL district unit general secretary Adv Shamsul Haq Tuku said his party activists had taken position at Ishwardi Junction to block the movement of trains. “No train will be allowed to leave the station after 12 noon,” he said.
Meanwhile, Awami League activists of Bera unit brought out a procession in the upazila headquarters and damaged 15 shops, one clinic and the upazila health complex.
Dr Anisur Rahman, a physician of Bera health complex, was also injured in the attack.
Chase and counter chase took place between Awami League and BNP activists when Awami League brought out a procession at Nagarbari.
BNP, Jamaat and Awami League activists were preparing to hold separate rallies. Activists of the two parties from different parts of the district were
gathering to attend the rallies.
Huge police have been deployed in the town to fend off further trouble.
Train services disrupted in Mymensingh
Train services were disrupted here today (Saturday) as Awami League activists halted trains in Goyeshwar and Moheshkhali areas in Mymensingh.
Locals said Dhaka-bound ‘Ekota Express’ from North Bengal was halted at Goyeshwar near Kawrite rail station at about 8.30am.
Another train, ‘Jamuna express’, from Rajshahi was stopped at Moheshkhali at noon, causing immense sufferings to the passengers.
In Mymensigh town, 14-party leaders and activists were demonstrating since morning as part of its central programme against the oath-taking ceremony of Justice KM Hasan as the caretaker chief.
No inter-district buses left or entered the district till 1pm.
Violence erupts at places ahead of power handover to caretaker govt
BNP, Jamaat leaders among
four killed
Violence erupted across the country prior to transfer of power to a caretaker government, leaving four people dead, including a BNP and a Jamaat leader.
Reports reaching UNB newsroom till 10 Friday night, many others were also wounded while dozens of vehicles burnt in the outbreaks of trouble in and around the capital as well as in some other parts of the country.
Militant ruling BNP and opposition Awami League workers fought with each other, set afire party offices and laid siege to highways at the transitional time of government.
Police said BNP leader Sheikh Habibullah was killed and two were seriously injured when bombs were hurled at their procession tonight in Brahmanbaria town. Habibullah was the vice-president of Brahmanbaria District BNP and general secretary of the District Bar Association.
In Gazipur, Jamaat Rokon Ruhul Amin, 50, was killed and two others were injured when opposition workers attacked and
burnt the Islamic party’s office at Shibbari tonight.
At Khilgaon in the capital, one person named Khuda Newaz Chowdhury, 40, suffered bullet wounds during a clash between BNP and AL supporters at about 8:30PM. Later he succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Police said a young man, Mohammad Aslam, who suffered bullet wounds Thursday during a clash in Dhamrai of Dhaka district, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital Friday afternoon.
In a continuing spate of violence in the capital, the supporters of BNP and Awami League clashed with guns in old Dhaka, leaving 15 people wounded, two by bullets. Several vehicles were torched in the city this evening.
Opposition workers set fire to the offices of the coalition partners BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in Dhaka and Gazipur, as the mainstream opposition parties launched agitation against the transfer of power to a caretaker government headed by Justice KM Hasan.
“Thousands
of protestors laid a siege to Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Chittagong highways, virtually cutting off road communications with the capital since evening,” sources said in a firsthand account of the barricades.
At Imamganj in the city’s Lalbagh area, the supporters of BNP and Awami League clashed with guns and brickbats, leaving at least 20 people injured, two by bullets, at about 5pm. The office of 65 Ward Commissioner Shahid was set ablaze at Islambagh Community Center at about 5:15pm.
At Pallabi, two youths-Shaheen and Bacchu--sustained bullet wounds when pro-Awami League activists allegedly attacked the local BNP office of Doaripara at about 8:45pm.
“Thousands of bus passengers returning to Dhaka from Chittagong, Comilla, Feni and Brahmanbaria after Eid vacation were seen trudging from Shanir Akhra point due to road blockade,” says a spot account of the scenes.
Seven to eight buses were burnt in Syedabad and Zatrabari areas, three buses
near Malibagh rail crossing, one at Maghbazar crossing, one in Motijheel area and one in Paltan area, the sources said.
Jamaat leader killed in Gazipur
Jamaat leader Ruhul Amin was killed in an attack on the party office at Shibbari in Gazipur Friday night.
Jamaat blamed Awami League workers for the killing, an allegation denied by Awami League.
Local people said Amin, 50, fled the party office during the attack and tried to take shelter in a nearby mosque. But the attackers hit him in his head with sticks, leaving him dead.
Brahmanbaria BNP Vice-president killed in bomb attack
Two others wounded in the procession bombing
Brahmanbaria District BNP Vice-president and bar association general secretary Sheikh Mohammad Habibullah was killed and two others were seriously wounded in a bomb attack in Brahmanbaria Friday night.
Police and witnesses said Habibullah was seriously wounded with
splinters when bombs were hurled at a procession of BNP and its front organizations near Hospital Road in the town at about 8pm. He was rushed to Sadar Hospital where he died.
Brahmanbaria District Juba Dal president Emdadul Hassan and JCD leader Bidyut were admitted to the hospital with “serious injuries”, the sources said.
Paltan bursts into violence
Paltan turned into a battlefield after Awami League activists clashed with the police Saturday in the final hours to power handover by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
The clashes started when the AL supporters tried to remove the barbed-wire fences the police put up on the Paltan road to stop opposition protests.
Our senior correspondents Abu Sufian and Kailash Sarker saw the police fire bullets and rubber bullets into protesters in Paltan to contain violence.
The clashes erupted into another battle between AL activists and Jamaat supporters.
At least one Jamaat
supporter was injured.
Unidentified people hurled bombs and fired gunshots from the Pir Yamini Market in the Paltan maidan area early Saturday.
The main opposition party Awami League has scheduled a midday grand rally at the venue Saturday.
Sub Inspector Mahmudul of Paltan police station told bdnews24.com that the miscreants hurled a number of bombs on the road in front of the market and managed to get away before police could reach the spot.
None was reported injured in the incident.
14-party block Dhaka-Maowa highway causing immense sufferings to Dhaka-bound people
As part of a countrywide opposition programme, local 14-party combine blockaded the Dhaka-Maowa highway in Munshiganj Saturday morning causing immense sufferings to the Dhaka-bound people.
Several thousand of people, returning to the capital after celebrating Eid, were stranded on the highway creating heavy traffic jam as the 14-party activists put
barricade on some 20 points of the highway protesting the outgoing government’s decision to appoint Justice KM Hasan as chief advisor of Caretaker Government.
Officer in-Charge (O/C} of Louhajang thana Mesbah and constable Hafiz were injured while trying to resist the opposition activists from putting barricade on the highway.
Meanwhile, Awami League and BNP activists locked into clashes in different parts of the district Saturday that left five people injured.
The activists of the Awami League-led 14-party combine damaged about 20 arches, erected across the district by BNP to welcome local MPs on the occasion of Eid.
A dais set up to welcome Mizanur Rahman Sinha MP in Sirajdikhan has also been razed to the ground by the opposition activists.
Transport movement disrupted following 14-party’s road blockade programme
Transport movement was disrupted in the district as the local 14-party combine put barricade on different
points of the Pabna district Saturday morning as part of countrywide opposition program.
The activists also damaged a number of buses and trucks in Pakshey.
General Secretary of District AL Adv Shamsul Haq Tuku said that his party activists had taken position at Ishwardi Junction to block the rail movement. “No train will be allowed to leave the station after 12 noon,” he said.
Meanwhile, Awami League activists of Bera unit brought out a procession in the upazila town and damaged 15 shops, Bera upazila health complex and a clinic.
Dr Anisur Rahman, physician of Bera health complex, was also injured during the attack.
Chase and counter chase took place between Awami League and BNP activists when Awami League brought out a procession in Nagarbari.
BNP, Jamaat and Awami League activists were taking preparation to arrange separate rallies. Activists from different parts of the district were gathering to attend the rallies.
Police have been deployed to fend off further trouble.
AL-BNP Clash leaves 20 injured in Sylhet City
At least 20 people were injured in a clash between the activists of Awami League and BNP at Court point in the Sylhet city Saturday morning.
The clash ensued at about 10am when local Awami League activists gathered at court point and BNP activists tried to drive them away. Five vehicles were also damaged during the clash.
Following the clash, most of the shops in the city were shut down creating a hartal like situation.
Besides, as part of their countrywide siege program the 14-party combined opposition attacked the railway station and beat up its manager at about 8am. No train left the station after the attack till the writing of this report at 11:50 am.
After the attack, other employees of the station fled the scene.
The activists also damaged a number of foundation plaques named after Finance Minister
M Saifur Rahman.
10 injured in LDP-BNP clash in Chittagong
At least 10 people were injured in a clash between newly floated LDP and BNP activists in Sitakunda and Chandanaish upazilas in Chittagong Friday afternoon.
Police and witnesses said local Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal activists attacked a procession brought out in support of Col Oli in Sitakunda upazila at about 5pm.
Both the groups chased each other during the clash, leaving five people injured.
In Chandanaish upazila, another five people were injured in a clash between LDP and BNP supporters in front of BNP office in the afternoon.
In another incident in Patia upazila, Chhatra Dal activists beat up a man, Swapan, while he was writing a banner for LDP.
Later, police rescued Swapan, the owner of Anjan Art.
A case was filed.
BNP MP Lobi’s house in Khulna comes under attack
A group of people attacked the house of BNP MP Mohammad
Ali Asgar Lobi, in the Khulna city’s Mirzapur Road, and damaged two private cars Friday afternoon.
Local sources said the group, numbering 8-10, also damaged the windowpanes of the house at about 5 pm.
One policeman and a photojournalist received injury during the attack.
Lobi alleged that the Awami League men attacked his house.
BNP activists damage business establishments of Ali Kadar MP in Benapole
Local BNP activists damaged business establishments of BNP MP Alhaj Ali Kadar and burned his effigy in Benapole Friday noon for joining the newly floated Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Sharsha thana BNP also held a protest rally vowing to resist Ali Kadar. They also called him “national betrayer” and declared him “unwanted” in Sharsha.
20 injured in AL-BNP clash in Shariatpur
At least 20 people were injured in a clash between the activists of ruling BNP and opposition Awami League at Domsar Bazar
in Shariatpur Friday on the eve of handing over power to the caretaker government.
Local sources said Chhatra League leaders Sujan and Shaheen allegedly beat Sekander Alam, a leader of Chhatra Dal, the student front of BNP, at Domsar Bazar in the morning.
Later, activists of the two organisations locked in a clash that resulted in chase and counter chase. At one stage, Domsar Union BNP office and 8-10 shops were ransacked.
At least 20 people were injured in the three-hour clash. Of the injured, Amir Hossain, 48, Harun Khan, 35, Riad Munshi, 35, Ishak, 25, and Hobby were rushed in critical condition to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital.
50 hurt in attack by BNP men in Rangpur
Some 50 activists of the 14-party alliance were injured in an attack by BNP workers in the Rangpur town Friday.
Police said the BNP activists swooped on a 14-party procession in front of local press club at about 5:30pm, leaving the 50 people injured.
Four of the injured were admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital in critical condition.
UNB Rajshahi correspondent adds: At least 20 people were injured in a clash between two fractions of BNP in Dakbungalow area under Tanore upazila Friday noon.
Police fired several shots in the air and lobbed teargas shells to bring the situation under control.
The local BNP office was also ransacked during the 20-minute fight.
Several of the injured were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
Source: UNB
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