Protesters clash with police at Baitul Mukarram

Protesters clash with police at Baitul Mukarram

Several people were injured in a clash as Muslim devotees clashed with police in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area in the capital after jummah prayers on Friday.

The trouble began as the devotees brought a procession in protest against alleged desecration of the Quran in Cumilla.

Witnesses said a large number of devotees came out from the national mosque after the jummah prayers chanting slogans against desecration of the Holy Quran.

The procession marched through the Paltan crossing and Bijoynagar intersection, and proceeded towards Kakrail Nightingale crossing.

As police tried to intercept the procession at the Nightingale crossing, they threw brickbats at the law enforcers.

Police also charged batons and lobbed teargas shells triggering a chase-and-counter-chase between the devotees and the cops.

As the clash spilled over to Bijoynagar crossing, police used water cannons and fired blank shots. They brought the situation under control at about 2:10pm.

Traffic on the roads in the areas came to a complete halt during the clash.

Contacted, deputy commissioner (Motijheel range) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Abdul Ahad said the law enforcers charged batons and fired teargas shells to control the situation as the devotees threw brickbats at the law enforcers.