Police on Friday obstructed and foiled rallies of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in at least 25 districts and upazilas, baton-charging its leaders and activists, according to Prothom Alo district correspondents.
At least 10 BNP activists were injured as the police charged them with batons and lobbed teargas shells to foil the BNP’s programmes. Several BNP activists were also detained.
The party and its associate bodies organised the rallies marking the fourth anniversary of the controversial 2014 national elections, which they call 'Democracy Killing Day'.
The party was earlier also barred from holding its scheduled 5 January rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city. Instead of BNP, a lesser-known political party, United Islami Party, organised a rally there on Friday afternoon.
Among five speakers of the United Islami Party rally, four were from ruling Bangladesh Awami League or its youth front Juba League's central leaders.
At the programme, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said that Dhaka dwellers would not allow BNP to hold so-called demonstrations in the capital. Another ruling party leader said BNP would not be allowed to hold any political programmes under 'Democracy Killing Day' title.
BNP leaders alleged that police did not even allow them to hold their 5 January rally in front of the party's Naya Paltan central office.
Reacting at this, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday told a Supreme Court programme, ''The police didn’t give us the permission. While coming here, I found that the Banani and Gulshan roads were blocked (to transport AL men to Suhrawardy Udyan).''
Asked about this, former election commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain told Prothom Alo that it is the government's duty to allow large political parties to carry out their political activities.
The process of allotting Suhrawardy Udyan to a lesser-known political party and ruling party's several rallies will give a wrong message towards holding a participatory election, he added.
BNP observes 5 January as 'Democracy Killing Day' while AL does it as 'Victory Day for Democracy'.
The ruling AL observed the day on Friday holding two rallies in the city - one in Bangabandhu Avenue and the other in Banani.
At this, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that they (AL) would hold two rallies in Dhaka city but BNP was denied to hold any programmes. ''This proves AL is a party that killed democracy,'' he added.
In Chittagong, on condition not to hold black flags, police allowed BNP to bring out a procession. In Jessore and Lalmonirhat, BNP's black flag processions and rallies were held peacefully.
Several thousand leaders and activists brought out a procession from Kazir Dewri in Chittagong and held rallies at the party office in the Nasimon Bhaban square in the afternoon. In the back of the procession, where several Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders and activists were carrying black flags, police snatched these from them. JCD leaders tried to take back the flags and beat up a member of the police.
In Narayanganj and South Keraniganj, police charged BNP's black flag processions with batons. They did the same when BNP brought out a procession in front of the press club after holding a brief rally at Chashara Balur Mat of Narayanganj. Five activists were injured. Police also used batons and tear gas shells to disperse the procession in Keraniganj. Some 25 leaders and activists were injured. At one stage, the BNP activists and law enforcers chases each other. Police opened blank fire and picked six leaders and activists.
Keraniganj model police station officer-in-charge Shaker Muhammad Zubayer admits firing of a shot.
Police beat up participants at a rally in Bandarban of Chittagong. When a portion of BNP tried to bring out a procession from Lane 2 of the town, police intercepted them. Afterwards they gathered near the central Durgamandir to hold a rally. Police dispersed them with batons and detained three including district unit of JCD president. When another group of BNP leaders and activists wanted to bring out a procession from the party office, police intercepted it.
In Khulna, at least 14 activists were injured when police launched a baton charge on the BNP procession. Mohila Dal workers Beauty Begum and Hosne Ara and Khalishpur police station BNP unit leader Al Amin were injured critically. One of Al Amin's legs was broken. It is alleged that police snatched away the cell phone of Daulatpur police station Jubo Dal leader GM Masudul Hoque.
Witnesses said BNP leaders and activists from different parts of the districts gathered at the party office of the town in Khulna. Police started attacking them with batons from behind when Khalishpur police station BNP unit reached close to the police station. BNP leaders and activists hit back with brick chips. Police detained five activists.
BNP could not hold rallies in Barisal. Police cordoned off houses of several leaders including Barisal Metropolitan BNP president Mojibur Rahman Sarwar.
BNP failed to get permission to hold a rally at the party office adjacent to Ashinikumar Hall area of the town. Pro-Awami League lawyers made a stage there and took position on Friday morning. Metropolitan joint general secretary Sadink Abdullah reached there with in a convoy of motor bikes at 10am. Later, a rally of students was held.
After failing to hold rallies, BNP and Jubo Dal brought out black flag processions at Port Road and Ruptali area of the city.
In Mymensingh, police raided the houses of several leaders including district BNP general secretary Abu Wahab Akanda and district Jubo Dal president Shamim Azad on Thursday night. Police cordoned off the BNP office and houses of leaders since Friday morning.
Police used batons to thwart the black flag procession at Gouripur of Mymensingh. At least 10 leaders and activists including Gouripur upazila chairman and also BNP joint convener of the north Ahmed Tayebur Rahman were hurt.
In Kishoreganj, police attacked the BNP rally at Nikoly of Kishoreganj. First police snatched away the banner of the rally and then charged them with batons. Later, police carried out raids at the houses of leaders. As the reporter of Daily Manobjamin Khairul Momen filmed the attack on the rally, inspector Shafiqul Islam visited his village home warned him against publishing the photo.
In Bhola, police locked the BNP office and cordoned it off. BNP could not observe its programme. Bhola model police station officer-in-charge Khairul Kabir, however, denied locking the BNP office. Police took position in front of BNP office in an interest of security, he added.
Police intercept BNP processions in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Pirojpur, Jamalpur and Joypurhat.
In the face of opposition, the leaders and activists ended the programmes after delivering brief speeches in front of party offices.
In Naogaon, police did not allow to bring out black flag processions. When BNP leaders and activists wanted to hold rallies at the party office, police opposed it too.
In Sunamganj, in the face of opposition by police, BNP leaders and activists ended programmes by holding street rallies. Sunamganj police station officer-in-charge Mohammad Shahidullah said the procession was intercepted in fear of chaos in the area.
In Dinajpur, BNP leaders and activists were not allowed to come out of the party office. Police opposed the black flag procession at Birol in the district.
In Comilla, police took a position in front of BNP office at Kandipar of the district. One group led by Aminur Rashid Yeasin held a brief rally there while another led by mayor Monirul Hoque could not go to the BNP office as police opposed them.
In Narsingdhi, police opposed the black flag procession. Later BNP held a brief rally at the Jailkhana Mor of the town.
BNP brought out a procession at Jagannathpur of Sunamganj, but ended it soon in face of police aggression.
In Meherpur, BNP held a brief rally at Baradi area some 10 kilometers away after failing to get permission in the town.
Police opposed BNP processions in Tangail and Gaibandha. Later, BNP held brief rallies in front of party offices.
In Faridpur, BNP held the rally in front of the super market after they faced opposition to the procession.
Former vice chancellor of Dhaka University professor Emajuddin Ahamed said, "Now politics of power is in sway. It is not democratic politics. We are moving towards uncertainty."
He said the demand of the opposition party is to ensure the participation of all parties in the election. A neutral field for elections has to be created, Emajuddin added.
*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam and Imam Hossain.