Three policemen beaten, stabbed in Narayanganj
At least 20 people including three police members have been injured in a clash between police-Awami League leaders-activists and BNP leaders and activists at Araihazar in Narayanganj.
The incident took place on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Pachrukhi bazar area from 8:00 am to 10:00 am on Tuesday.
The injured three police members are -- inspector Humayun Kabir, assistant sub-inspector Md Matin and constable Md Nurul.
Narayanganj senior assistant police super Abir Hossain said the condition of constable Nurul is critical. He sustained head injuries from stabbing during the incident.
Inspector Humayun Kabir sustained stab injuries in his right hand and his left hand has been broken. ASI Matin has been hit by sticks and brick chips.
Nurul has been taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and the remaining two have been admitted to a private hospital in Rupganj. Inspector Humayun Kabir, however, will be sent to National Institute Of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR).
According to witnesses, assistant secretary on international affairs at BNP central committee, Nazrul Islam led several hundred leaders and activists at a procession on Dhaka-Sylhet highway in support of the party's 72-hour blockade.
BNP leaders and activists at the time blocked the road by setting fire to tree stumps, RCC pillars and tyres. When the police obstructed them, there was an incident of chase and counter chase between them. Police fired several rounds of rubber bullets and tear gas shells aiming at the BNP leaders and activists while, while the picketers hurled brickbats at the police.
At one point of the clash, BNP leaders and activists chased the police and caught three police personnel. They then beat and stabbed the police men. At that point, local leaders and activists of Awami League also joined with plice. When more police personnel arrived, BNP leaders and activists left the scene.
At the time of the clash, picketers vandalised at least three buses plying on the Dhaka-Narsingdi highway. Traffic movement on the road resumed with the help of police almost one and half hours later.
Nazrul Islam claimed that at least 17 of their leaders and activists have been injured in the clash. He said, “We carried out a peaceful procession at first. Police attacked us without any reason. Later, Awami League men also joined with the police. They vandalised my house too.”
Additional superintendent of police in Narayanganj, Md Amir Khasru said that the situation is under police’s control now. Police members have been deployed in the area and three persons had been arrested from the scene at the time of the clash.
Meanwhile, BNP leaders and activists brought out processions in Rupganj’s Kanchan and Sonargaon’s Nayapur areas on the Asian Highway in support of the blockade on the first day.