Update: 5 held in connection with yesterday’s clash placed on one-day remand each

A Dhaka court today placed five people on one-day remand each in connection with yesterday’s clash took place between activists of BNP and Awami League during an election campaigning in Wari area of Dhaka.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Sufian Md Noman passed the order after police produced them before the court with a seven-day remand prayer each.

The accused are Jamil Ahmed Tuhin, Billal Hossain, Sohel, Faruk and Akram Hossain Munna.

Police arrested them in connection with the clash early today, Sub-Inspector Julfikar Ali told The Daily Star.

Maksud Ahmed, a ward-level Awami League leader, filed a case with Wari Police Station over the clash yesterday.

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY?

Supporters of BNP mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation Ishraque Hossain and those of an Awami League-backed councillor candidate Rokon Uddin clashed during campaigning in the capital’s Wari yesterday afternoon. 

The clash which continued for more than 30 minutes left 15 people, including two journalists, injured.

Ishraque blamed the ruling party activists for the incident and said that the attack was made to ruin the election atmosphere. But AL supporters alleged that their rivals were shotuing provocative slogans against them, leading to the clash. 

ISHRAQUE BLAMES POLICE OF BIAS

The BNP mayoral candidate blamed police of bias and said they could not file any case as Wari police refused to cooperate.

Sting operations are being conducted by police to arrest party men to bar them from campaigning, said Ishraque. But he warned, such attempts will not be successful.

He was briefing media in front of his house last night when he made the comments.

They have already written about the lack of police cooperation to the returning officer, Ishraque said, adding that they will file a case with a Dhaka court as well.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (Wari division) of DMP, Shah Iftekher Ahmed, said he was not aware of any complaints: “I did not get any complaint copy [from their side] in this regard.”