Tense situation in Rajshahi city

Our Correspondent | Published: December 13, 2013 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

RAJSHAHI, Dec 12: A tense situation has been prevailing in Rajshahi city and surrounding upazilas following the rejection of review petition of death penalty of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah this noon.
Soon after the rejection of the review petition, activists of Jamaat-Shibir took out procession at Kajla Octroi crossing area of the city. They also charged police with brickbats and attacked police vehicle with petrol bomb and cocktails around 1-45 pm. The clash continued for about half an hour when police dispersed the attackers by firing around 50 rounds of rubber bullets and lobbying tear gas shells.
Soon the clash spread at Binodepur, Kajla, Bhadra, and Northern crossing areas. However, due to heavy presence of RAB and police, the trouble makers failed to stay long.
Meanwhile, Shibir activists also attacked the building of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Merchantile Co-operative Bank and Dutch Bangla Bank at Aloka crossing on Wednesday night. They also burnt parts of those banks, Chamber Bhaban and a motorbike by hurling petrol bombs. Fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and douzed the fire.
Jamaat-Shibir activists also burnt office of Workers Party at ward-3 on Wednesday night. They also blasted several cocktails infront of Rajshahi Education Board the same time.
Ziaur Rahman Zia, Officer-in-charge of Boalia Model thana informed, Jamaat-Shibir took out whirl-wind procession from New Market area and set fire by throwing petrol bombs at Chamber Bhaban, Dutch Bangla Bank and Merchantile Co-operative Bank branches. Police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Meanwhile, shutters of almost all shops and markets of the city were drawn down following the news of rejection of appeal petition of death penalty of Jamaat leader Quader Mollah. People are not coming out of their houses except for emergencies. Movement of all types of vehicles also remained suspended excepting a small number of battery operated autos and rickshaws. An unusual calm has been prevailing in the city and surrounding upazila sadars, it is learnt.