Dhaka, Oct 28: (PTI) A Bangladeshi policeman was killed and more than 200 people, including security personnel, were injured on Saturday as violence erupted during rallies called by the ruling and opposition parties here, heightening tensions in the country ahead of the expected elections in January.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, organised a grand rally here demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to allow free and fair elections under a non-party interim government.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Spokesman Faruk Hossain said BNP activists hacked to death a police constable while 41 other policemen were wounded in clashes across the capital. He added that 39 policemen were undergoing treatment at the Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital (CPH).
“Doctors declared him (policeman) dead as he was brought here,” Bacchu Mian, Inspector at the police outpost at state-run Dhaka Medical College Hospital, told reporters, as the ruling Awami League party and main opposition BNP called simultaneous rallies in nearby areas.
Paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was also called out as the violence spread across downtown Dhaka, which saw protestors setting fire to ambulances and vehicles inside CPH, a police booth, and attack attempts being made at several government buildings. Kakrail and adjacent areas also saw major violence.
Police responded with rubber bullets, tear gas canisters and sound grenades to break up the grand rally by the BNP.
“BNP leaders and activists attacked the government installations and property. Legal actions will be taken,” Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s detective branch chief Harunur Rashid told reporters.
Prime Minister Hasina’s ruling Awami League party also staged a “peace rally” mobilising thousands of supporters at the South Gate of Baitul Mokarram Nation Mosque, when BNP activists rallied around the party’s Naya Paltan central office, both the spots being in downtown Dhaka.
Police in riot gear with water cannons created buffer zones at the Purana Paltan area to prevent clashes among rival activists, who were armed with bamboo sticks and stones.
Doctors at Dhaka’s main state-run DMCH told reporters that so far, around 200 people have been brought to the facility, many of them with critical head injuries.
The violence, which broke out in the Kakrail area when BNP activists allegedly attacked a bus carrying members of the rival party, spread as soon as police fired tear gas at the opposition activists chanting anti-government slogans.
The BNP has called a nationwide general strike on Sunday to protest against police action to foil a “peaceful mass gathering”.
In response, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader asked the ruling party workers to stage “peace rallies” countrywide. (PTI)
