At least three people, including an activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir, were killed on Thursday in a wave of violence in Bogra during Jamaat-e-Islami’s nationwide shutdown.
The party will
enforce a general strike there on Saturday in protest at their
‘murders’
There were fresh clashes between Jamaat activists and police on Thursday afternoon at ‘Satmatha’, at the heart of the town, after a Shibir leader died from the injuries he sustained in the morning.
Assistant Police Superintendent Moqbul Hossain said they were forced to fire from their guns after activists of Shibir, Jamaat’s student front, had them cornered at one point.
Dodging bullets, the Shibir activists set fire to a privately owned dormitory of Azizul Haque College where the local Chhatra League leaders were housed, locals said.
Those who died in clashes are President of Government Azizul Haque College’s Shibir chapter Ruhani Azizul Haque, Shibir activist Abdullah and businessman Mizanur Rahman.
Majedul Rahman Jewel, General Secretary of the Jamaat’s Bogra unit, told bdnews24.com, “We have called for dawn-to-dusk shutdown in Bogra on Saturday in protest at the deaths of Jamaat activists and demanding arrest of those responsible.”
Jamaat supporters clashed several times with police during the early hours of the shutdown called to force the government to release the senior party leaders standing trial for alleged crimes against humanity during 1971 and repealing the war crimes tribunals.
Ruhani and Mizan were injured in the clashes and died in hospitals while undergoing treatment. Abdullah died in Jamilnagar in clashes with police following Ruhani’s death.
ASP Hossain said Abdullah’s body had been kept in Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. There were others who received bullet wounds in that incident.
Jamaat claimed Mizanur Rahman, the businessman who died in clashes at noon, was an activist for the party, but police said he was from Comilla and was in Bogra on a business trip.
Jamaat also said that Ruhani and Mizan died in separate attacks by the Awami League activists. However, police said Ruhani died in clashes with pro-government forces, but they were yet to verify how poultry businessman Mizan was killed.
Jewel told bdnews24.com they were picketing in Saabgram of the town at noon when Mizan was killed.
’Pickets forced a leader of the ruling party to get down from a motorcycle he was riding. The leader later returned with supporters to launch an armed attack on the pickets,’ he said.
Jewel further claimed that the anti-shutdown activists then hacked and injured Mizan with machetes. He died as he was rushed to the Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hospital.
Shibir leader Ruhani was killed in the morning in the town’s Phulbarhi area after violent clashes with pro-government forces.
ASP Hossain confirmed it. “Ruhani died at noon after being injured in a clash during the shutdown.”
About businessman Mizan, he told bdnews24.com, “We are investigating to find the reasons that led to Mizan’s death.” He said Mizan is from Comilla and was in Bogra on matters of business.
Chhatra Shibir activists attacked police at the town’s ‘Saatmatha’ zero point on hearing about Ruhani’s death.
Hand bombs were exploded targeting policemen as they approached ‘Saatmatha’ at around 4pm. At one point, they chased police back into the station.
The 400-strong police contingent fired tear shells and rubber bullets to turn back the pickets, who then retreated to Government Azizul Haque College.
They then set fire to Jewel hostel where many Chhatra League activists were staying, locals said.
Police along with a fire-fighting team arrived at the site to douse the fire when they came under attack by Shibir men, who were firing from guns and hurling bombs, ASP Hossain said.
”We fired bullets, rubber bullets and tear gas shells back at them in defence.” He claimed Abdullah’s dead body was found after that clash ended.
Police provided no clear statement as to how Abdullah died.
Publication Secretary for Jamaat’s district committee Mizanur Rahman told bdnews24.com, “I have heard that he died after being shot by police. I tried to go to the hospital. I turned back since I couldn’t.”
Abdullah’s dead body has been kept at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.
Earlier, at around 8am, Shibir men vandalised a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and a motorcycle in one of the town’s suburbs.
Police arrested two pickets after hearing the news of vandalism, and Jamaat men retaliated by throwing brickbats at the law enforcers.
A police shotgun then went missing during the clash was recovered after they chased the pro-shutdown activists.
There were fresh clashes between Jamaat activists and police on Thursday afternoon at ‘Satmatha’, at the heart of the town, after a Shibir leader died from the injuries he sustained in the morning.
Assistant Police Superintendent Moqbul Hossain said they were forced to fire from their guns after activists of Shibir, Jamaat’s student front, had them cornered at one point.
Dodging bullets, the Shibir activists set fire to a privately owned dormitory of Azizul Haque College where the local Chhatra League leaders were housed, locals said.
Those who died in clashes are President of Government Azizul Haque College’s Shibir chapter Ruhani Azizul Haque, Shibir activist Abdullah and businessman Mizanur Rahman.
Majedul Rahman Jewel, General Secretary of the Jamaat’s Bogra unit, told bdnews24.com, “We have called for dawn-to-dusk shutdown in Bogra on Saturday in protest at the deaths of Jamaat activists and demanding arrest of those responsible.”
Jamaat supporters clashed several times with police during the early hours of the shutdown called to force the government to release the senior party leaders standing trial for alleged crimes against humanity during 1971 and repealing the war crimes tribunals.
Ruhani and Mizan were injured in the clashes and died in hospitals while undergoing treatment. Abdullah died in Jamilnagar in clashes with police following Ruhani’s death.
ASP Hossain said Abdullah’s body had been kept in Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. There were others who received bullet wounds in that incident.
Jamaat claimed Mizanur Rahman, the businessman who died in clashes at noon, was an activist for the party, but police said he was from Comilla and was in Bogra on a business trip.
Jamaat also said that Ruhani and Mizan died in separate attacks by the Awami League activists. However, police said Ruhani died in clashes with pro-government forces, but they were yet to verify how poultry businessman Mizan was killed.
Jewel told bdnews24.com they were picketing in Saabgram of the town at noon when Mizan was killed.
’Pickets forced a leader of the ruling party to get down from a motorcycle he was riding. The leader later returned with supporters to launch an armed attack on the pickets,’ he said.
Jewel further claimed that the anti-shutdown activists then hacked and injured Mizan with machetes. He died as he was rushed to the Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hospital.
Shibir leader Ruhani was killed in the morning in the town’s Phulbarhi area after violent clashes with pro-government forces.
ASP Hossain confirmed it. “Ruhani died at noon after being injured in a clash during the shutdown.”
About businessman Mizan, he told bdnews24.com, “We are investigating to find the reasons that led to Mizan’s death.” He said Mizan is from Comilla and was in Bogra on matters of business.
Chhatra Shibir activists attacked police at the town’s ‘Saatmatha’ zero point on hearing about Ruhani’s death.
Hand bombs were exploded targeting policemen as they approached ‘Saatmatha’ at around 4pm. At one point, they chased police back into the station.
The 400-strong police contingent fired tear shells and rubber bullets to turn back the pickets, who then retreated to Government Azizul Haque College.
They then set fire to Jewel hostel where many Chhatra League activists were staying, locals said.
Police along with a fire-fighting team arrived at the site to douse the fire when they came under attack by Shibir men, who were firing from guns and hurling bombs, ASP Hossain said.
”We fired bullets, rubber bullets and tear gas shells back at them in defence.” He claimed Abdullah’s dead body was found after that clash ended.
Police provided no clear statement as to how Abdullah died.
Publication Secretary for Jamaat’s district committee Mizanur Rahman told bdnews24.com, “I have heard that he died after being shot by police. I tried to go to the hospital. I turned back since I couldn’t.”
Abdullah’s dead body has been kept at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.
Earlier, at around 8am, Shibir men vandalised a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and a motorcycle in one of the town’s suburbs.
Police arrested two pickets after hearing the news of vandalism, and Jamaat men retaliated by throwing brickbats at the law enforcers.
A police shotgun then went missing during the clash was recovered after they chased the pro-shutdown activists.
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