BNP leaders and workers locked into clashes with Awami League activists in the capital’s Mirpur area on Thursday over holding a scheduled rally.
The trouble started around 2pm as the ruling party activists reportedly barred their BNP rivals from going to their scheduled rally venue in Mukul Fouz field at Mirpur Section No-6.
Iqbal Hossain, former joint general secretary of Dhaka north city unit, said their party was scheduled to hold a rally as per their previous announcement in Mirpur.
“Our leaders and workers were going to the Mukul Fouz field to join the rally. But the leaders and workers of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League equipped with rod-sticks and arms attacked them,” he said.
Witnesses said the clash occurred around the Mukul Fouz field as the BNP activists tried to resist the ruling party rivals.
At one stage, police rushed to the spot and lobbed teargas shells to bring the situation under control.
However, sporadic clashes continued at different lanes in the area till 3:15pm.
Iqbal said the ruling party activists vandalised their makeshift stage of the rally and took a position in the venue in a bid to foil the programme.
Earlier on September 10, BNP announced to hold public rallies in 16 spots under its Dhaka south and north city units until September 27 in protest against the increase in prices of essentials, fuel and transport fares.
The rallies are also meant for registering the party’s protest against the killings of Bhola Chhatra Dal leader Noor-e-Alam, Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim and Narayanganj Jubo Dal leader Shaon Prodhan.
The party has so far held four rallies.
