Police disperse BNP rivals in Comilla, 15 injured

Panchagarh council suspended

24 November 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

Police yesterday foiled an attempt to create chaos by a rival faction of Comilla South BNP unit following declaration of a new committee at the council of the unit. The law enforcers fired teargas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the aggrieved BNP men, leaving 15 injured. The council of Comilla South BNP unit was held at Rajanigandha Community Centre in the town. The councillors elected Rabeya Chowdhury, Hazi Aminur Rahshid and Mostak Mia president and general secretary and organising secretary of the unit in presence of Sarwari Rahman, vice-president of the party's central committee, reports UNB. Manirul Huq Sakku-led faction took position near the venue at Pubali Chattar of Kandirpar. Police were also deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident. Outraged by the declaration of committee, the activists of Sakku faction took out a procession. As police tried to prevent the aggrieved BNP men, they swooped on the law enforcers and hurled brickbats at them. Police fired teargas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the agitators. Police later recovered a pistol from the scene. Our Thakurgaon correspondent says: BNP central committee Monday suspended the council of Panchagarh district unit which was scheduled to be held on the day. Ruhul Kabir Rezvi, office secretary of the central BNP, made a phone call to district Convener Mojahar Hossain Monday morning and informed the decision of the central committee. In Narsingdi, a section of BNP activists blocked Dhaka-Sylhet highway on Sunday to press home their demand for cancellation of district convening committee. In Narsingdi, a section of BNP activists blocked Dhaka- Sylhet highway on Sunday to press their demand for dissolving the district convening committee. They brought out a procession and put up barricade on the highway disrupting traffic for half an hour from 11:00am. Addressing a press conference at local press club, former district BNP president Mejbahuddin Iran accused district BNP Convener Khairul Kabir Khokon of fuelling intra-party feud. Iran also blamed Khokon for excluding the party's dedicated activists while forming committees of different local units and inducting controversial ones into the committees. Terming the district convening committee 'illegal', he urged the party high command to dissolve the committee.