Police foil attempts to lay flowers at Dhanmondi 32

Police on Friday foiled attempts made by two persons to pay respects with flowers at the demolished residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Dhanmondi road 32 in the capital.

One of them is Salina Begum, who argued with police after she was prevented from placing flowers.

She introduced herself as a resident of Agargaon and a member of the Awami League, which is currently banned from running political activities.

"Today (Friday) is August 15. Bangabandhu was killed in this house. This is Bangabandhu's house. I will lay flowers here anyhow. I am asking for your help. Please help me," she said.

But police told her Dhanmondi 32 was closed for security reasons and no one would be allowed to enter there.

At one point during the argument, several local residents present at the scene grabbed her flowers and threw them on the ground.

Police later put her on a rickshaw and sent her home.

Tamjid Islam, a member of Chhatra Dal's Lalmatia unit, who was present at the scene, claimed that the woman had come to Dhanmondi 32 merely to go viral.

He said if she were a true Awami League activist, she would not have come.

Even the party's top leaders are on the run, he also said.

He claimed the woman had repeatedly said, "Hasina did not commit the murders."

This angered the crowd, who then threw away her flowers, said Tamjid.

He also said she was eventually persuaded to leave, and no disorder occurred.

"A woman went to Dhanmondi 32 to lay flowers. Considering the situation, we asked her to leave. The situation is under control now," said a police official at Dhanmondi Police Station.

After the incident, a man named Azizul Haque went to Dhanmondi 32 around 12:15pm to lay flowers.

He identified himself as a rickshaw puller and said he was not involved in politics and simply came out of his love for Bangabandhu.

When agitated crowds assaulted him, police took him away.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Solaiman Suman, who was on duty at the Dhanmondi Police Station, said police had taken in Azizul for questioning.

Police barricades were seen on both sides of the road in front of Bangabandhu's house since early morning.

No vehicles were allowed there.

There was a heavy presence of law enforcement officials, while curious onlookers also gathered.

Loud music was played at the Dhanmondi Lake Park in the morning. Those who arranged this identified themselves as students.

Police on duty at Dhanmondi 32 said security had been tightened since Thursday night.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com