Police seize 200 crude bombs in capital
As many as 82 people were arrested across the country, with sporadic incidents of violence taking place in the city in connection with the opposition’s ‘March for Democracy’ programme on Monday. Also, Anarul Islam, chairman of Agardari union parishad in Satkhira, was killed in a clash during a drive conducted by the joint forces in Satkhira. Witnesses said the joint forces, comprising members of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), conducted a raid at Shikari area to arrest criminals around 1pm.
Sensing the forces approach towards them, the BNP and Jamaat-Shibir supporters, who were hiding at Kulabagan area, started firing and hurling brickbats. The joint forces retaliated by started firing, leaving Anarul Islam dead on the spot. Leaders of the local BNP claimed that the deceased was their supporter.
Enamul Haque, officer-in-charge of Satkhira Police Station, confirmed the news.
In the capital, the police, acting on a tip-off, arrested three people from Razia Sultana Road of Mohammadpur in the early hours of Monday. Two hundred crude bombs were found in their possession.
A bread seller received bullet injuries when the police fired bullets to disperse a procession, brought out by 18-Party Alliance supporters, at Nawabpur area in old Dhaka around 11am. The injured was identified as Yusuf Ali Khan, 50, who was whisked off to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Kuddus Fakir, officer-in-charge of Bangshal Police Station, said a group of youths had brought out a brisk procession at Nawabpur area. “They blasted crude bombs and vandalised vehicles. The police fired rubber bullets to prevent any untoward incident,” he added.
In the city’s Lalbagh area, a clash erupted between BNP supporters and the police. The opposition supporters brought out a procession near the orphanage area around 1pm. The law enforcers fired several rounds of bullets and teargas shells to disperse them, leaving several people injured. Seven people were arrested from the spot.
Shariful, 20, lost an eye after being hit by splinters when miscreants blasted bombs at Nawabpur area. He was taken to the DMCH for treatment.
The police detained three people in front of the Jatiya Press Club around 11am, suspecting that they would join the BNP’s ‘March for Democracy’ programme.
Sechhawasebak Dal activists vandalised two vehicles and exploded three crude bombs at Jhutpatti area at Mirpur 10 around 12 noon, when they brought out a procession in the area, leaving five people injured.
In Meherpur, Firoz Hossain, 28, was critically injured while making bombs. The incident took place at the Nahid Vulcanizing Factory at the city’s bus stand area around 11am. The injured was rushed to the Meherpur general hospital. The police also rushed to the spot and detained him during treatment.
Law enforcers also recovered a bomb from Ghatpara area around 12 noon.
In Rajshahi, the joint forces recovered a large ampount of gunpower and 65 crude bombs from a under-construction building on early Monday. The forces also arrested nine BNP and Jamaat suporters, including Rajshahi city corporation ward councillor, during an overnight raid in the city.
Alamgir Hossain, office of the Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB), confirmed the news.
In Kustia, miscreants set fire to an election camp of Mahbubul Alma Hanif, joint general secretary of the Awami League, during early hours of Monday. The police detained four people, including Masudul Alam Kakku, organising secretary of the Majampur union BNP, in this connection.
The incident took place near the Mannan Khali Bridge of Jannathpur village under Majampur union of Sadar upazila.
Belayet Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kustia Police Station, said the arrestees were involved in setting fire to the election camp and legal action would be taken against them.
In Sirajganj, the joint forces detained 25 Jamaat-Shibir men, including Jamaat amir Abdul Gafur and secretary Jahurul Islam of Goyhatta union under Ullapara upazila.
In Sylhet, the joint forces arrested 19 BNP and Shibir activists from different parts of the district, while 25 BNP and Jamaat supporters were arrested in Dinajpur on Sunday night.
In Thakurgaon, 13 people, including BNP joint general secretary Ansarul Islam, were arrested by the joint force.
-With The Independent input
