10 injured, 15 detained in BNP, police clash in Chattogram

At least 10 people, including five police personnel, were injured in a clash between BNP activists and police in the port city's Kazir Deuri area today.

The clash broke out around 3:30 pm today. Around 15 people were detained during the incident, Chattogram Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (South) SM Mehedi Hasan said.

Five policemen were injured in front of the BNP office in Kazir Deuri, as brickbats were hurled at them when they were on-duty.

Police took action to bring the situation under control and 15 BNP leaders and activists were arrested. Legal action against them will be taken in this regard, our Chattogram staff correspondent reports quoting DC Mehedi.

Earlier in the day, BNP men brought out a protest procession. At the time a chase and counter-chase took place between them and police. At one stage, police charged batons and dispersed them after they barricaded a road, said CMP (South) Additional Commissioner Palash Kanti Nath.

The situation is under control now, he added.

Meanwhile Abu Sufian, joint convener of BNP's Chattogram city unit told The Daily Star that "Police opened fire on the procession without any provocation as BNP men marched towards the party office in Kazir Deuri around 3pm. At least 20 of our leaders and workers were shot. They have been admitted to several hospitals in the city."

The procession was brought out to protest the attacks and deaths that took place on Independence Day in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Brahmanbaria, said BNP leaders.