Nurul Haque, several others injured in law enforcement agencies’ action

A clash broke out between activists of the Jatiya Party (JaPa) and the Gono Odhikar Parishad in Kakrail, Dhaka yesterday (Friday) evening. The incident occurred when a procession of Gono Odhikar Parishad was passing in front of the JaPa office. Later, several people, including Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque, were injured in baton charges by law enforcement personnel.

Gono Odhikar Parishad alleged that while their procession was passing by in the evening, JaPa activists attacked them. JaPa, on the other hand, claimed that Gono Odhikar Parishad activists attacked JaPa members by bringing out a procession.

When contacted around 10:30 pm, Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan told Prothom Alo that in protest against JaPa’s attack, their leaders and activists, including President Nurul Haque, were preparing for a press conference in front of their office at around 9:30 pm.

At that moment, members of police and army attacked them, leaving President Nurul Haque, Rashed himself, and over a hundred activists injured. Nurul Haque was seriously injured. He, along with six others, was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Later, Rashed Khan spoke to journalists in front of the party’s central office in Bijoynagar. He said that Awami League and JaPa jointly carried out the attack on Gono Odhikar activists.

He further said that although there are cases against JaPa leader GM Quader, he is moving around freely without being arrested. Awami League’s organisational activities have been banned, but those of JaPa and other allies of the 14-party alliance have not been restricted.

Meanwhile, regarding the clash between JaPa and Gono Odhikar activists, Masud Alam, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Ramna Division, told Prothom Alo that a procession of Gono Odhikar Parishad was passing by the JaPa office in Kakrail around 6:30 pm.

At that time, JaPa activists came out of their office. Soon after, both sides engaged in chasing and threw brickbats at each other. Several members of both parties were injured. After the clash continued for half an hour, police and army personnel brought the situation under control.

Masud Alam added that several police personnel were also injured while trying to control the situation. Among them, Inspector Anisur Rahman, 42, was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

At around 9:30 pm, JaPa Secretary General Shamim Haider Patwary held a press conference where he said that the Gono Odhikar Parishad had held two meetings demanding the banning of JaPa and the arrest of the JaPa chairman.

He said he does not believe there is any justification for a political party to hold such a meeting. While leaving the meeting, Gono Odhikar Parishad activists threw bricks at JaPa members, injuring several of them. Later, when JaPa activists retaliated, prolonged chases ensued between the two sides.

Police and army personnel then intervened and brought the situation under control. Shamim Haider demanded a proper investigation into the incident and exemplary punishment for those responsible.

Adviser for law Asif Nazrul visited Dhaka Medical College Hospital last night to see injured leaders and activists of Gono Odhikar, including Nurul Haque. Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolan condemned the attack on Nurul Haque, while the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) staged a protest later in the night.

The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) stated in a press release that a violent situation erupted in capital’s Kakrail area on Friday night following clashes between leaders and activists of two political parties.

According to the release, leaders and activists of two parties engaged in clashes and chasing in Kakrail area around 8:00 pm. Several people were injured at the time.

The press release added that both the army and the police were deployed there to restore order. The Police at first arrived at the scene and tried to control the situation. However as the clashes escalated, they sought the army’s assistance. When police moved in, they came under attack, leaving several members injured.

The ISPR said that at the outset, law enforcement members urged both sides to remain calm, vacate the area peacefully, respect existing laws, and resolve their disputes through peaceful means. However, despite repeated appeals, some activists ignored the instructions and tried to aggravate the situation through ‘mob violence’.

They launched organised attacks on law enforcement officers and around 9:00 pm escalated the violence further by holding a torch procession. They threw brickbats and tried to set fire to various structures at the time, it added.

In addition, public movement was severely disrupted in Bijoynagar, Naya Paltan and surrounding areas, causing widespread suffering. They disregarded all efforts by law enforcement to find a peaceful solution. As a result, the law enforcement personnel were compelled to use force to ensure public safety. The ISPR also noted that five army personnel were injured in the incident.

The press release further mentioned that the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has adopted a “zero-tolerance policy” against all forms of mob violence. The Bangladesh Army reaffirms this commitment, declaring its readiness to take a firm stance against any such violence in order to restore reassurance and security among the public. The army remains fully committed to ensuring public safety, maintaining law and order, and upholding peace.

Around 12:45 am, Gono Odhikar Parishad general secretary Rashed Khan briefed journalists in front of the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Citing doctors, he said that Nurul Haque was suffering from a brain haemorrhage.

Rashed Khan demanded that the chief adviser, the home affairs adviser and the army chief have to clarify within 24 hours why this attack took place and under whose orders. He further demanded to know whether the attack on Nurul Haque and others was carried out under any directive from the government.

“The way Nurul Haque was attacked, we are not aware of any leader being assaulted in such a manner even during the Awami League’s time in power. Whether the army and police forces have ever carried out such an attack together before, we do not know,” Rashed Khan said.