Dhaka/

Clashes took place between Awami League and BNP activists around the gathering of Dhaka District BNP at Zinjira in Keraniganj of the capital. At least 45 people from both sides were injured in this, including BNP central executive committee member and Dhaka district BNP general secretary Nipun Roy Chowdhury.

The incident took place on Jinjira bus road at around 11 o’clock on Friday. At this time, several cars were also vandalized. The identity of the injured activists was not immediately available.

As part of the ongoing anti-government movement, BNP is holding public gatherings in 18 districts and cities of 9 divisions of the country, including Dhaka Metropolitan South. As part of the central programme, a rally was organized in front of the BNP office at Jinzira on the initiative of Dhaka District BNP.

Dhaka district BNP president Khandaker Abu Ashfaq presided over the rally which was supposed to start at 10 am today. After the clash, the police brought the situation under control and the rally started at the pre-arranged place around 11:30 am. Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was present in the rally as the chief guest.

Eyewitnesses said that around 11:15 a.m., a Juba Dal procession was going to the BNP rally from Jinjira Chatgaon area. When this procession came in front of the Dakshin Keraniganj Thana Awami League office, tension arose between the leaders and activists of both sides. At one stage, the excited leaders and activists of both sides threw bricks. At this time, the leaders and activists of both sides got involved in chases and clashes. Meanwhile, BNP leaders and activists got excited and attacked and vandalized the office of Dakshin Keraniganj Thana Awami League.

According to BNP, Nipun Roy Chowdhury was attacked from Awami League office on his way to a rally in front of the party office with a procession.

Awami League alleges that Nipun Roy Chowdhury planned the attack on the party office of Awami League. Awami League, Chhatra League leaders and activists who were in the office at that time resisted the attack. The leaders of the party also alleged that 10-15 people were injured in this incident, including senior leader Azhar Bangali, Konda Union Chhatra League President Al Amin Mahmud.

Dhaka District Additional Superintendent of Police Aminul Islam said that some enthusiastic activists of BNP attacked the Awami League office. Earlier, several people from both sides were injured in the clash and hit by bricks. The police reached the spot and quickly brought the situation under control.