At least 10 people suffered injuries as police sprayed rubber bullets during an eviction drive against an illegal truck stand and shops in the city’s Tejgaon area on Sunday.Witnesses said a team of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) conducted the drive around 1pm.
The eviction drive took a violent turn as transport workers and shop owners attacked the DNCC team throwing brick chips around 1:30 pm, triggering a chase and counter-chase between them.
Police sprayed rubber bullets to disperse the workers that left 10-12 people injured.
Jasim Uddin, 41, a mini-truck owner who suffered bullet wounds, was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Railways Minister Mujibul Haque and DNCC Mayor M Anisul Haque were, among others, present during the drive.
Amid tension over an eviction drive, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Annisul Huq on Sunday urged the city dwellers to stay behind him to continue his drive to make Dhaka a ‘neat and clean’ city freeing it from illegal occupants.
“[There’s] nothing to fear. I’m your city father. You’ve elected me. I’ll make the city neat and clean, it’s my responsibility,” he told a crowd apparently emerging from confinement.
At least 10 people suffered injuries as police sprayed rubber bullets during an eviction drive against an illegal truck stand and shops in the city’s Tejgaon area earlier in the day.
The DNCC eviction drive turned violent in presence of Mayor when transport workers blocked Satrasta road. One photojournalist of bdnews24.com, Tanvir Ahmed, was hurt and media vans were vandalised during the clash.
Justifying the eviction drive, Huq said they have been talking to parties concerned regarding the eviction drive for the last two months and many of them suggested clearing it. “What we’re doing for your betterment, not for me,” Mayor Huq said urging people to listen to him.
He assured that a better truck terminal will be built for the truck owners, and urged people to stay cool.
Witnesses said a DNCC team conducted the drive around 1pm.
The eviction drive took a violent turn when a DNCC bulldozer tried to smash an abandoned truck around 1:30 pm. Transport workers and illegal shop owners attacked the DNCC team throwing brick chips, triggering a chase and counter-chase between them.
Police sprayed rubber bullets to disperse the workers that left 10-12 people injured.
Jasim Uddin, 41, a mini-truck owner who suffered bullet wounds, was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Railways Minister Mujibul Haque and DNCC Mayor M Anisul Haque were, among others, present during the drive.
As a rumor traveled around that the injured Jasim died at the DMCH, the protesters turned even more violent. Seeing the turbulent situation, the DNCC Mayor and the Railways Minister had to take shelter inside the office of Bangladesh Truck and Covered Van Drivers’ Union.
The agitated transport workers put barricade on Satrasta crossing halting traffic from both sides. They also damaged several vehicles, including TV vans and set afire tyers on the streets.
At one stage, Railways Minister Mujibul Haque left the spot after 3:00 pm.
The situation returned to normalcy after Mayor had left the union office around 4:50 pm.
