A local BNP leader was killed in police firing when police attacked supporters and leaders of BNP during their mass procession in Panchagarh district town on Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Abdur Rashid Arefin, 50, from Boda upazila. He was serving as the joint convener of Moyna Dighi Union BNP.
Resident Medical Officer at Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital, Towfiq Ahmed, said an injured man named Arefin was brought to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.
As part of BNP’s movement for pressing home the 10-point demand it unveiled at its Dhaka divisional rally on December 10, the party's Panchagarh-based leaders and activists gathered at the local party office on Saturday around noon, said witnesses.
Before they could bring out any procession though, the law enforcers released tear shells and fired rubber bullets to disperse the gathering, according to witnesses. Those who protested the police’s actions were baton-charged. The BNP activists eventually dispersed, and then a series of chase-counter chase ensued, that continued for nearly 90 minutes. Police opened fire at BNP activists which left Abdur Rashid Arefin bullet ridden.
He was taken to Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
District BNP convener Zahirul Islam Kachchu claimed they were planning to hold a peaceful rally when police arrived and ratcheted up the tension “They dispersed us by firing tear gas, lathi charge and rubber bullets leaving BNP leader Arefin dead and around two hundred activists injured,” he said.
Kachchu demanded a judicial inquiry into the police action against what was planned to be a peaceful rally.
