‘Ivy among 30 hurt’ as hawkers clash with NCC mayor’s supporters

At least 30 people were injured, five critically, as hawkers clashed with the followers of Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy in the city this afternoon.

The NCC mayor also sustained minor injury in her leg during the clash, Ivy’s brother Ali Ahmed Ripon told our Narayanganj correspondent.

The clash ensued after Ivy along with her followers went to Chashara area to oversee the illegal occupation on footpaths, said Saraf Uddin, assistant superintendent of police in Narayanganj.

The hawkers occupied the footpaths in the area this afternoon, a day after ruling Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman “directed” them to sit on the footpaths.

Protesting the matter, the mayor along with her supporters went to Chashara area. As they asked the hawkers to free the footpaths, the latter locked into altercation, triggering the clash.

At least 30 people including the NCC mayor were injured in the clash, police said. Ivy was hit by a stone in her leg at the time, said her brother Ali Ahmed Ripon. 

Five of the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition, said Asaduzzaman, medical officer of Narayanganj General Hospital.

Later, police fired several rounds of blank shots to disperse the clashing people.

Yesterday, Shamim Osman, at a rally organised by the hawkers in the city, directed them to sit at the footpath from 4:00pm to 10:00pm until February 21.

Following the permission, the hawkers occupied the footpaths today, 21 days after they were driven out from there by the city corporation authorities.

Later, talking to the journalists at Narayanganj Press Club, NCC Mayor Ivy blamed Shamin Osman for instigating the attack. “Shamim Osman directed his men to attack us,” she said.

She also alleged the followers of Shamim Osman fired gunshots at innocent people during the attack.