At least five people were injured as activists of the banned Islamist outfit Hizb-ut-Tahrir clashed with police near the National Press Club in the capital on Friday. Police arrested 24 suspected Hizb-ut-Tahrir supporters after the clashes. Witnesses said members of the Hizb ut-Tahrir brought out processions from High Court and Segunbagicha mosques after Jum’a prayers to hold a rally at Muktangan in the city.
Police obstructed the processions near the National Press Club, triggering clashes between police and Hizb ut-Tahrir activists.
Hizb ut-Tahrir men hurled brick chips at the policemen, to which the police responded by charging at them with batons. Police also fired rubber bullets to bring the situation under control. At least five people were injured in the clashes.
Officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Sirajul Islam said 24 suspected Hizb-ut-Tahrir activists were arrested. Police were interrogating the arrestees to collect information about Hizb-ut-Tahrir activists, he added. Police also seized banners, posters and leaflets of the banned outfit.
Hizb-ut-Tahrir men were distributing leaflets in different areas of the capital over the last few days to hold a rally at the Muktangan on Friday. The Islamist group planned to hold their rally at Muktangan urging the countrymen to establish “Khelafat” boycotting both the BNP and the Awami League.
The government on October 22, 2009 banned all activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Bangladesh in the interests of public security. The government said the organisation was banned as it was carrying out anti-state, anti-government, anti-people and anti-democratic activities for long in the country.
Hizb ut-Tahrir is an Islamist political party founded in Jerusalem in 1953. The partystarted its activities in Bangladesh in 2000.
-With The Independent input
