Destiny distributors, cops clash hurting 50
A face-off between a policeman and one of the agitating Destiny distributors at the capital's Segunbagichha yesterday. Inset, the distributors demonstrate at the Ramna Park protesting the freezing on the company's bank accounts and cases filed against its officials. Photo: Star/courtesy
Several thousand distributors of Destiny Group clashed with law enforcers in a number of places in the capital yesterday, leaving at least 50 people, including 20 policemen, injured. The clashes began in Paltan, Kakrail, Fakirerpool, Gulistan and Jatiya Press Club areas when police obstructed the Destiny distributors from attending a protest rally in front of Jatiya Press Club. Destiny Distributor Forum was to host the rally to press home their demands to reopen the frozen bank accounts of Destiny Group and withdrawal of the cases against the Destiny officials. The Destiny officials allegedly transferred crores of taka from the company accounts to their personal accounts. When obstructed, the protesters pelted the law enforcers with bricks and later got dispersed after police fired tear gas and used batons. Police also detained around 200 of the demonstrators, but freed them later. The clashes caused severe traffic chaos in the areas. Convener of Destiny Distributor Forum AKM Shafiullah said police obstructed them and went into action though they were trying to hold a peaceful rally. Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Syed Nurul Islam, however, said the Destiny distributors brought out several processions and tried to hold a rally without permission. The Anti-Corruption Commission has sued 22 Destiny officials on charges of siphoning off Tk 3,285.26 crore, and it has been asked to take steps to freeze 532 bank accounts of Destiny Group and Destiny-2000 Ltd.
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