Agitation Over Khaleda's House
BNP men go berserk
At least 35 vehicles damaged, 10 cops injured
BNP men damaged at least 35 vehicles during their agitation in the city yesterday over its Chairperson Khaleda Zia's cantonment house.
At least 30 people, including 10 police, were also injured in sporadic clashes between BNP activists and police during the agitation.
BNP activists set fire to at least 10 vehicles and damaged 25 others and clashed with law-enforcers, halting vehicles on the roads in various areas, including Jahangir Gate, Naya Paltan, Malibagh, Fakirer Pool, Farmgate, Mohakhali, Notre Dame College, Victoria Park and Gabtali.
Police also picked up at least 50 people in connection with the clashes and torching and damaging vehicles.
A tense situation was prevailing in the city yesterday, as the BNP men went berserk on the roads. People got panicked yesterday as many vehicles, including bus, private cars and taxicabs, plying on the roads were seen damaged by setting fire to them or by pelting brickbats.
Acting Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque told The Daily Star that the law enforcers detained the people in connection with the violence.
“All law enforcement and security personnel across the country have been directed to remain alert as well as additional forces have been deployed at different strategic places and important points so that none gets any chance to destabilise law and order,” said the acting IGP.
He added, “The law-enforcers have been asked to go tough against those who will attempt to create any anarchy.”
Shahidul Hoque said they have projected a security planning with a huge contingent of forces to face hartal called by main opposition [BNP].
Police and witnesses said the first violence was ensued at Shaheed Jahangir Gate in Dhaka Cantonment area where BNP workers staged demonstrations halting vehicles from Bijoy Sarani to Mohakhali Road for one hour till 12:40pm. They ransacked a number of vehicles during the agitation.
BNP men also ransacked at least 10 vehicles and clashed with police in front of BNP's central office at Naya Paltan and Kantaban around 1:00pm while police charged batons and fired teargas canisters to disperse the mob.
After one hour of the incidents at Naya Paltan and Kantaban, BNP men set fire to a double-decker bus used for carrying students of the Dhaka University in front of Water Tank. They also set fire to a bus of Green Line in front of Notre Dame College, a bus in front of Victoria Park, a bus in front of Science Laboratory, a bus at Gabtali around 2:00pm and two taxicabs at Malibagh around 5:00pm.
Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence sources added that picketers set fire to a bus in front of Ansar Camp and Shah Ali Complex in Mirpur, Jatrabari Dania College, Malibagh City Dental College and Tongi Mill Gate respectively and a private car in front of Rampura TV Gate.
According to witnesses and police, the double-decker bus was set fire by a group of seven to eight persons when the bus headed to Fakirer Pool from Doinik Bangla Moore.
Mohammad Alam, owner of Alam Metal at Fakirer Pool, who witnessed the incident told The Daily Star that a group of people stormed into the BRTC bus and pulled out the students of the bus and set it on fire.”
The buses at Science Laboratory and Gabtali and two taxicabs at Malibagh were also set on fire by pulling out their passengers.
The buses in front of Notre Dame College, Victoria Park and Gabtali were set on fire when they were parked on the road.
Picketers set fire to a minibus near Mirpur National Swimming Pool in the city at 8:30pm while another was set on fire at Jatrabari Kutubkhali area at 8:40pm.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Benazir Ahmed told The Daily Star that they deployed forces in the city to tackle any untoward situation.
He said police are looking for other people involved in the anarchy causing public sufferings.
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