Shanir Akhra turns into battlefield
Over 100 people including BNP MP and cops injured; protesters demand
smooth water and power supply
STAFF REPORTER
Over 100 people including a local BNP MP were injured in six-hour long
clashes between thousands of angry demonstrators, demanding smooth water and power supply,
and the police at Shanir Akhra in the city yesterday. The protesters damaged a number of
vehicles, shops and put up barricade on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway bringing to a halt
movement of traffic for long 12 hours since 7 am. The vehicles started plying from 7-30 pm
when the situation became normal, though groups of protestors were still positioned at
different points in the trouble-torn locality till the time of writing this report at 9
pm.
Thousands of passengers of Dhaka-Chittagong highway suffered terribly
due to road blockade since 7 am by the angry protesters who are launching movement for
adequate supply of water and electricity.
Hundreds of people of Shanir Akhra, Dania, Rasulpur, Paterbagh,
Palashpur, Dholaipar, South Kazla and Japane Market area came out in the streets in
protest against acute crisis of water and electricity in their locality.
The angry mob took position at Shanir Akhra on the Dhaka-Chittagong
Highway at around 7 am and put up barricade on the road causing a heavy traffic jam. They
observed three-hour demonstration programme on the road peacefully.
When Salahuddin Ahmed, MP of Demra-Shyampur constituency arrived at the
spot at around 9.45 am and inquired about the cause of the barricade on the road, the
situation turned worse and the agitated people started giving slogans against him.
Being furious, the MP at one stage brought out a pistol from his pocket
and ordered the law enforcers to open fire on the people. As the police refused to carry
out his order, he misbehaved with OC Gaffar of Demra thana. He again ordered the police
force to open fire on the protesters.
The angry protesters threw brickbats at Salahuddin MP for his rough
behaviour. In order to escape mob fury, the MP and policemen took shelter in Anarkoly Fast
Food Shop and Bikrampur Store located on the ground floor of Popy General Hospital.
Hundreds of people rushed there and threw brickbats targeting the
shops. The angry mob also damaged over 100 vehicles. At one stage police came out from the
shop and fired tear gas shells and bullets to disperse the agitating mob.
Shalahuddin remained confined inside the shop for ten minutes. However,
he managed to move to safety with the help of police and the local BNP leaders.
Over 30 people including Shalahuddin MP and at least 10 policemen were
hurt by brickbats. The injured policemen are AKM Iqbal Hossain, AC of Demra Thana, Gaffar,
OC of Demra thana, constables Nasir, Abdul Ali, Nur Ahmed, Tayeb, Anwar Hossain (60),
Akbar (13) and Bachhcu Miah (25) also received injuries.
Of them the condition of Anwar Hossain is critical. The injured
policemen were rushed to Rajarbagh Police Line Hospital while the rest of the injured were
admitted to the local hospital.
Talking to The Independent Mosleh Uddin Masud, convenor of the newly
formed Sangram Parishad, said that the people of Shyampur area have been suffering for the
last two months due to acute water and power crisis. The people of Shyampur area said that
they informed the local MP Shalahuddin several times but he did not take any step to solve
the crisis.
The angry mob removed the barricade for the time being. Later, they
took position at Shanir Akhra bus stand and put up barricade again on Dhaka-Chittagong
highway at around 11am.
Then police took position in the Ayesha Mosharraf Shopping Complex and
godown there. The agitated people chanted slogans against the local MP and demanded
adequate water and power supply. A huge contingent of riot police were deployed there. The
police chased the angry protesters and charged baton on them. The people also staged a
counter-chase and threw brickbats on the policemen. At least 40 people were injured in the
clashes. Police retreated and took shelter near Kazla Petrol Pump.
The agitated people damaged a tin shed godown and also a police camp at
Shanir Akhra and plundered every thing including tin, bamboo, rod and chair. The police
would stay there at night. Police did not face the protesters.
Afterwards former MP Habibur Rahman Mollah of AL went there and
expressed solidarity with the agitating people and tried to pacify them.
Salahuddin Ahmed MP claiming himself to be innocent told newsmen that
the Awami League activists did it for creating a situation like Kansat.
Moslehuddin Masud placed nine-point demand to the high command of
ruling party and also gave an ultimatum of 24 hours or they would not leave the street.
The nine points include solution of water crisis, repair of water pump
at Paterbagh, elimination of load shedding, unconditional apology of the MP to the people
and assurance that no case will be filed against the agitating people.
At about 4 PM a battalion of army reached the spot and tried to bring
the situation under control but the people could not be pacified and four army personnel
were injured in the brickbating by the protestors.
Awami League leaders Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya (Bir Bikram) along
with some leaders rushed to the spot and expressed solidarity with the protesters. At one
stage some BNP cadres led by Jumman member and Shamim threw brickbats on them, local
sources said. A series of chases and counter-chases took place between the protestors and
BNP cadres backed by police. Later, they regained control over the Shanir Akhra area
driving away the demonstrators from there. More than 20 people including two children were
injured in the clashes.
The angry mob damaged United Filling Station near Shanir Akhra and
Choudhury Petrol Pump at Jatrabari. Later, the clashes spread at Kutubkhali.
A tense situation is prevailing in the area till the filing of this
report at around 9 pm as both the protestors and BNP activists are still taking position
on Dhaka-Chittagong way.
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