Key Highlights:
- The Jatiya Party (JPA) office was vandalized and set on fire in the capital’s Vijayanagar.
- A group of people set fire to the office around 6:30 pm on Saturday.
- Despite the presence of a large number of law enforcement officers, tension prevailed in the area.
- The clash began around 3:45 pm with a protest march by the leaders and activists of the People’s Rights Council.
- The previous day, there was a clash in front of the JPA office, injuring Rashed, the general secretary of the People’s Rights Council, and a policeman.
- The army came to control the situation; tension between the two sides continued.
- Allegations of attacks by the joint forces on the leaders of the People’s Rights Council, including Nurul Haque Nur.
Protests and blockade
On Saturday afternoon, around 3:45 pm, the leaders and activists of the Ganadhikar Parishad blocked the road by burning tires. They then started a protest march, which turned around the Paltan intersection and headed towards Kakrail. The clash began when the march reached in front of the JPA office.
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Clashes and arson
According to eyewitnesses, bricks and stones were thrown at the police from the procession. At one stage, both sides got involved in a clash. In the meantime, a group of people vandalized and set fire to the Jatiya Party office. The police lathi-charged the protesters to bring the situation under control.
Previous day’s events
The previous day, on Friday evening, the Ganadhikar Parishad took out a procession demanding a ban on the Jatiya Party. The marchers clashed with Jatiya Party activists in front of the JPA office. Rashed, the General Secretary of the Ganadhikar Parishad, was injured in this. Later, the Ganadhikar Parishad started a torchlight procession over the issue.
At that time, more than a hundred leaders and activists tried to set fire to the JPA office. In the clash with the police, they used bricks and stones and domestic weapons. A policeman was hit in the head. Later, the army arrived at the scene to control the situation.
JPA press conference
Before the incident on Saturday, Shamim Haider Patwary, Secretary General of a faction of JPA, complained at a press conference that an attempt had been made to set fire to the JPA office on Friday night as well in the name of a torch procession. At that time, it was possible to protect the office with the help of the army and the police. He also said that the army needs a more visible role in the interest of the country.
Allegations of attack on Nurul Haque Nur
The People’s Rights Council called an emergency press conference around 9:30 pm on Saturday. After the conference, the leaders and activists were chased by law enforcement on their way back. At one stage, allegations were made that the joint forces attacked Nurul Haque Nur and other leaders in front of the People’s Rights Council office.
Source: Samakal
