Police foil Oikya Front rally

Police on Sunday foiled a 'civic mourning rally' brought out by Jatiya Oikya Front in the city protesting the killing of BUET student Abrar Fahad.

Several hundred leaders and activists of the alliance, led by its convener Kamal Hossain, took out the rally wearing black badges and holding black flags from the National Press Club area towards the Central Shaheed Minar around 5:10pm.

Minutes after the rally started, police obstructed it saying the alliance leaders that they are not allowed to hold the rally.

The Oikya Front leaders tried to break the police barricade, but failed.

At one stage, police allowed the vehicle, carrying Kamal, to go to his Bailey Road residence while the alliance leaders left the spot in the face of obstruction by the law enforcers.

Earlier, the Oikya Front leaders held a public rally at the auditorium of the National Press Club protesting the murder of Abrar.

At the programme, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna announced to hold a public rally at any open space or ground in the city on 18 October on the same issue.

Abrar, 21, a resident of Sher-e-Bangla Hall of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), was reportedly beaten to death by some Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders and activists of the university unit last week.