At least 23 people were injured in a clash between the police and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in front of BNP’s central office on Sunday.
The clash erupted at around 6pm during a procession by the activists of the Chhatra Dal in the Naya Paltan area, said Paltan police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Salauddin Mia.
The activists at one point started attacking the police by throwing brickbats, he said.
Three policemen were injured during the attack, he added.
As many as 11 arrests have been made in connection with the incident, so far, said the OC.
Central Secretary of Chhatra Dal Saif Mahmud Jewel said the police attacked their workers’ meeting in Rupnagar. Later, they launched another attack when the activists started a procession in protest in front of the BNP’s central office.
BNP Senior Joint General Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in a statement said many of the activists were injured in the attack, and many others were detained.
Police also detained BNP Dhaka South Member Secretary Rafiqul Alam Majnu at 8pm, he said.
More than 20 leaders and activists, including BNP leader Kazi Imtiaz Ahmed Tipu and Matshajibi Dal Joint Convener Jahirul Islam Bashar, were detained, according to the statement.
More than 15 leaders and activists, including Chhatra Dal Central Secretary Saif Mahmud Jewel, Dhaka west Member Secretary Ashraful Islam Mamun, and Joint Conveners Akram Ahmed and Taifur Rahman Fuad, were injured.
Police have confiscated about 30-35 motorcycles belonging to BNP and its affiliates, said the BNP leader.
“I strongly condemn and this police brutality”, he said before before demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the detained leaders and activists, including Rafiqul Islam Majnu.
The BNP leader claimed the main purpose of the “police attack” was to let people know that Bangladesh was a police state.