Opposition activists, repelled from marching on Hawa Bhaban, fought with riot police on the streets on Wednesday as Dhaka looked like a besieged city.
Police fired teargas shells and charged baton to disperse the angry activists in Paltan Maidan, Motijheel, Malibagh and Dhaka Medical College Hospital areas, leaving dozens injured and many arrested.
A dozen Awami League front organizations declared the siege on allegation that the Hawa Bhaban, political office of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, is the informal seat of power that “patronizes corruption and terrorism”.
Witnesses said thousands of police in full riot gear were posted at strategic points throughout the city and barbed- wire fences blocked important roads to foil the siege to Hawa Bhaban.
A foolproof security measure was taken in Banani, and all roads leading to Hawa Bhaban at Road no. 13 were almost sealed restricting movement of pedestrians and vehicles.
Witnesses said Juba League workers went berserk and fought with police near Paltan Maidan at around 3:30 PM. Police fired several rounds of teargas shells to calm the brick-throwing activists.
Juba League general secretary Mirza Azam MP was wounded being hit by a tear shell and admitted to Samarita Hospital. Sramik League president Ahsanullah Master MP was also reported injured in the melee.
Police charged baton on the workers of Swecchasebak League near Malibagh rail crossing while they were proceeding in a procession to join the march towards Hawa Bhaban through Rampura. Several people were injured and picked up from there.
At around 3:20 PM, female workers of Chhatra League tried to take out a procession from near DMCH area, but police broke them up and held a few, including BCL vice-president Marufa Akhtar Poppy, Shefali and Munni.
Police also chased opposition workers at Nawabpur Road and arrested several demonstrators.
Witnesses said Awami League central office was kept under siege as police blocked entire Bangabandhu Avenue from morning.
Tarique plays cricket with comrades
Tarique Rahman, senior joint secretary-general of the ruling BNP, Wednesday dismissed the complaint of corruption and terrorism against Hawa Bhaban, asking his party’s opponents to specify the sweeping allegations.
“It’s politics of falsehood of Awami League. Why don’t you ask them if they have any evidence? Let them speak specifically if they can,” he told reporters at the playground close by the Bhaban in question where he and his younger brother played cricket, apparently to play down political concerns.
Asked why he preferred to play cricket on the day Awami League’s front organizations decided lay a siege to Hawa Bhaban, Tarique retorted: “ All wanted to play, so we played.”
Asked if he finds any similitude between cricket and politics, he said, “No”. The two are different subjects, he added.
When his reaction was sought over the Opposition’s siege programme, the up-and-coming BNP leader avoided a direct answer, saying, with a smile, “Today I won the match and I feel good.”
Tarique and his younger brother Araft Rahman led the two teams, and the elder won the friendly match.
Replying to a question about the opposition demand for midterm election, the BNP leader said nothing happened in the country that calls for such snap polls.
According to democratic process and constitution, election will be held every five years. People of the country who are source of all powers would take decision after five years as to who will run the country.
The demand for midterm election is only the demand of a single party, he said, other political parties or people did not ask for it. “ I don’t think that they (AL) possess that power for taking such a big decision.”
|
