ছবি: Photo: Collected
Dhaka, November 10 - Tensions flared on Sunday as BNP activists reportedly assaulted several individuals suspected of being Awami League supporters on Bangabandhu Avenue. According to Paltan Police Station, 17 people were detained between Saturday night and Sunday morning. The detentions come amid preparations by law enforcement to manage rival political demonstrations in Dhaka's Gulistan Zero Point and Bangabandhu Avenue.
From early Sunday morning, activists from the BNP, including its youth and women's wings, assembled on Bangabandhu Avenue near the Awami League headquarters, chanting slogans and protesting. Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement gathered at Gulistan Zero Point, blocking the road in opposition to the Awami League’s scheduled demonstrations. Despite these gatherings, traffic flow in the area remained relatively unaffected.
Witnesses report that around 11 a.m., several individuals were beaten in front of the Awami League’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue. Some victims had their clothes torn during the incident. Police were seen escorting some of the injured to safety.
Paltan Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC), Kazi Nasirul Amin, confirmed the detentions, stating, “Some individuals gathered in front of the Awami League office. Student activists and other protesters apprehended them and handed them over to the police. We have brought them to the station for questioning.”
Saturday night’s tension prompted a statement from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman, who asserted that law enforcement would strictly prevent any assemblies by banned organizations and maintain public order in the capital. Rahman further emphasized the requirement for permits from the DMP for any assembly, warning that unauthorized gatherings would face strict action.
The protests stem from a call by the Awami League to hold a rally at 3 p.m. on Sunday to commemorate Shaheed Noor Hossain and demand the removal of "anti-democratic forces." Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement called for a gathering at noon on Sunday, seeking accountability for perceived injustices by the Awami League.
To maintain control, police deployed a significant number of officers to Gulistan Zero Point and Bangabandhu Avenue, where water cannons and riot control vehicles were positioned. Additionally, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were seen patrolling the area to ensure order amid the heightened tensions.
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