Demo Monday as cops foil BNP protest

FE Report

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced on Saturday a fresh agitation programme as police foiled their 'black flag' protest in front of the party's central office on the day.

Police detained BNP central leaders Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal and Mostafizur Rahman Babul after breaking up the protest against the police refusal to allow a mass rally against the conviction of party chief Khaleda Zia.

Police dispersed the protest using batons and water cannons around 11:00 am on Saturday morning in front of the BNP headquarters at Naya Paltan in Dhaka. They also detained several activists.

BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said at a press conference at the Naya Paltan office that the party would hold protest rallies across the country on Monday as law enforcers didn't allowed BNP to hold the black flag programme in a peaceful manner.

Police foiled their 'black flag' protest by attacking, arresting and injuring party leaders and activists, he added.

Police allegedly used water cannons, charged baton and fired teargas canisters to disperse BNP leaders and activists when they tried to hold the protest programme around 10:30 am.

Law enforcers also detained around 20 leaders and activists including BNP joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal while many of them also sustained injuries during the clash.

Police also smashed a makeshift stage built in front of the party office to stage their protests.

Later, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press conference held at the party's Naya Paltan office condemned the police attack.

He said though BNP was holding a peaceful programme over days, the government was continuously provoking the party so that a 'violent situation' arises in the country.

"The way the government is behaving … if such a situation spreads in the country, they will be responsible for that," he said.

Mentioning the police attack on the party men, Mr Fakhrul said, "Why should we need to take permission from them (police) to observe all types of programmes? … We haven't violated Section 144, then why police attacked on our peaceful movement?"

He also said BNP leaders and activists haven't taken to the streets, they just showed black flags standing on the footpath as a sign of protest.

"It's our fundamental right," he said questioning, "Do we need to take permission from the police to talk even inside our house?"

DMP Motijheel Zone ADC Shibli Noman said, "Showing black flags occupying city road is not a peaceful programme. They did not take prior permission for arranging it."

"We can't allow any programme that disrupts public life," the police official added.

However, he couldn't clear the number of arrestees immediately at the spot.

A few hundred activists had gathered for the protest by 10:30am. Police took action after they took up positions on the road.

Several activists, including BNP Organisational Secretary Fazlul Haq Milon, Advisory Council member Ataur Rahman Dhali and former MP Nilofer Chowdhury Moni were injured.

Several BNP leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul, were struck by the water from the cannons.

The BNP activists retreated inside their offices and locked the gates while continuing to chant slogans.

Police attacked the offices again around 11:00 am as BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moeen Khan attempted to enter. Police detained former student wing leader Mostafizur Rahman Babul at the time.

Central leader Halima Newaz Arli was also detained.

BNP has been staging protests since its chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to jail on February 8 after a special court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

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