M Iqbal hossain Chattogram Bureau

Clash occurred between police and hawkers in Chittagong city’s New Market area. On Monday (February 12) around 4 o’clock, hawkers protesting for rehabilitation clashed with the police. Clashes were going on between the two sides till the latest news (5:30 PM). Several businessmen and policemen were reported injured in the clash.

Eyewitnesses said that the evicted hawkers were protesting on the street in front of the municipal school adjacent to the hawkers market in Jahore from 2 pm on Monday. On the other hand, workers of Chittagong City Corporation were cleaning unoccupied sidewalks and roads in the same area. At that time, the hawkers gathered in the Newmarket area and obstructed the work of the executive magistrate and officers of the city corporation. At one point in the argument, the hawkers turned violent.

Meanwhile, the hawkers started throwing stones and bricks at the police on the spot. Police also fired tear gas to control the situation.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police Southern Division Additional Deputy Commissioner Noble Chakma said, “Three policemen were slightly injured due to brickbats thrown by hawkers. A large number of police personnel have been deployed at the spot. At present the situation is under control.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the Chittagong Footpath Hawker Association have claimed that the police opened fire on them. They also claimed that a hawker was shot. The city corporation workers deliberately instigated the incident to thwart the peaceful activities of the hawkers.

Meanwhile, a businessman of Tamakundi line, who did not wish to be named, claimed that at least 20 traders were injured in the tear-shells fired by the police.