N’ganj mayhem: ‘Action to be taken against gun-toting men’

Terming the Narayanganj incident “unfortunate”, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said action will be taken against those who brandished firearms during Tuesday’s clash.

“We are doing what is required. We are looking into those who brandished firearms and took laws in their hands,” the home minister told journalists.

Read More: Mayhem in Narayanganj

He came up with the comments in reply to a query after inaugurating an upgraded rehab center under Department of Narcotics Control in Tejgaon Industrial Area in the afternoon.

On Tuesday, Narayanganj city Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy and around 50 others were injured as supporters of local Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman attacked Ivy and her followers, leading to the clash on Bangabandhu Road in Narayanganj's Chashara.

There had been tension in the city over the last few days as Osman took a stance against the mayor's decision to evict illegal hawkers from footpaths, locals said.

At a rally on Monday afternoon, the AL lawmaker said the hawkers could not be evicted until they are rehabilitated, and that they would do business on footpaths from 5:00pm to 10:00pm on Tuesdays till February 21.

Ivy, meanwhile, declared that she would not allow hawkers to occupy footpaths.

Around 4:15pm on Tuesday, Ivy along with city councillors and her followers took position in front of the Nagar Bhaban. They then marched in procession towards Chashara where several groups of hawkers had already taken position.

When the procession reached Sayam Plaza in the area around 4:30pm, some of Ivy's followers tried to evict hawkers from the footpaths, leading to an altercation resulting in a clash

As the two sides got involved in a scuffle, Jubo League leader Niazul Islam, who is loyal to Osman, came forward and threatened Ivy's supporters brandishing a firearm.

Gunshots were heard and some were seen brandishing firearms at that time.

Niazul, who introduces himself as a Jubo League leader, is brother of Jubo League activist Nazrul Islam alias Sweet, who was killed in a shootout with law enforcers.