Shaheed Minars: 21 injured in clashes over placing wreaths

GBNEWS24DESK//

The solemnity of International Mother Language Day programmes was marred by the attacks and clashes involving ruling party men in three districts yesterday.

At least 21 people were injured in the incidents in Chattogram, Manikganj, and Jhenidah.

In Chattogram, five activists of Bangladesh Chhatra Union were injured in an attack allegedly carried out by Bangladesh Chhatra League men over placing wreaths at the Shaheed Minar of Municipal Model High School yesterday morning.

An altercation between activists of the two student bodies erupted around 9:30am as Chhatra League men tried to pay tribute, cutting the queue, witnesses and Chhatra Union men said.

Imran Chowdhury, president of Chattogram district unit Chhatra Union, said people were paying tribute maintaining discipline and the queue.

“We were also going to place flowers maintaining the queue…But, suddenly a group of Chhatra League activists cut in and headed towards the Shaheed Minar,” he said.

“As our activists protested, they attacked us,” he said.

Five Chhatra Union activists were injured, he claimed.

Panic spread among people who went there to pay tributes to the language martyrs.

Zakaria Dastagir, general secretary of Chattogram City Chhatra League, said no one from the organisation was involved in the incident.

In Manikganj town, leaders and activists of Awami League’s front organisations — Sramik League, Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League – clashed after placing wreaths at a Shaheed Minar yesterday.

At least 10 were injured, party sources claimed.

Witnesses said the clash sparked between the followers of Sramik League leaders Abdul Jalil and Babul Sarkar around 9:30am. Later, the Jubo League and the Swechchhasebak League men also got involved.

District AL’s General Secretary Abdus Salam said disciplinary action would be taken against those involved.

In Jhenidah’s Kaliganj upazila, six people were hurt after Chhatra League and Chhatra Dal men clashed after they placed wreaths at a Shaheed Minar.