20 hurt in clash as 'March for Unity' convoy attacked in Bagerhat

At least 20 people have been injured in a clash after an Anti-discrimination Student Movement convoy headed to Dhaka for the ‘March for Unity’ programme was attacked in Bagerhat's Mollahat, reports bdnews24.com.

The incident occurred in the Madrasaghat area around 11:30am on Tuesday, according to Shafiqul Islam, chief of Mollahat Police Station.

Citing locals and students, OC Shafiqul said 25 buses from the Khulna Metropolitan Area set off on Tuesday for the ‘March for Unity’ event in Dhaka.

"In the meantime, one of the vehicles in the convoy fell behind and there was an argument between the people of two different vehicles in the Madrasaghat area over giving way on the road."

Local residents reportedly dragged several students out of their bus and assaulted them, setting off a broader clash between the convoy passengers and the attackers.

The entire area erupted in an hour-long chase and counter-chase between the two sides. At that time, traffic on the Khulna-Mawa highway was halted for about two hours.

Later, police and army personnel arrived at the site and brought the situation under control.

At least 20 people were reported injured in the clash, the OC said.

Zahurul Tanvir, Anti-discrimination Student Movement coordinator for Khulna, said: "Our convoy was peacefully going to Dhaka from Khulna. On the way, criminals who had been prepared in advance attacked us. Many were injured."