Cops lob tear shells to foil BNP demo, 15 held

Dhaka, Dec 5 (Just News): Law enforcers dispersed a demonstration of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders and activists with tear gas near Doel intersection as they tried to bring a procession from the main entrance of High Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Witnesses said police intercepted the BNP procession near Doel intersection and dispersed them by lobbying tear shells.

BNP leaders and activists started demonstration while the BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia crossed the area after appearing Dhaka Special Court-5 at Bakshibazar to secure her bail in Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases. The Judge of the court granted the bail upon her surrender before the court seeking bail.

Earlier, on 30 November, the court issued an arrest warrant for Khaleda Zia in two graft cases after cancelling her ad-interim bail as she failed to appear before it on time.

During the agitation, police and BNP men chased each other intermittently for half an hour while several vehicles including a BRTC bus were vandalised near government officers hospital at Bangabazar and also near the National Press Club, Bangladesh Secretariat and Curzon Hall areas. A motor cycle of a police sergeant was also set ablaze near the hospital.

BNP chairpersons press wing source said police arrested their 15 to 20 men from different points during the procession.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of DMP Ramna division Maruf Hossain said at least three members of law enforcers were injured during the clash and police have picked up several people from the spots.

The situation is now under control, he added.

(Just News/ys/2300hr)