Dhaka – Stray incidents of clash between police and demonstrators, vandalising of motor vehicles at different places in the city and elsewhere in the country marked the demonstration of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student organisation Chhatra Shibir leaving at least 20 people including two police personnel injured.
Police arrested at least 15 unruly people from different places while they tried to bring out procession and engage in vandalising of vehicles.
As part of the demonstration programme, Jamaat-Shibir activists tried to bring out processions from New Market and Elephant Road areas in the city and were locked in clash with police while they were intercepted.
The protesters vandalised 10-15 vehicles during the clash at Elephant Road. Police on the other hand picked up at least 15 suspected Shibir men by raiding the areas after the incident at about 2:00pm.
Police fired rubber bullets and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the Jamaat-Shibir activists, who retaliated by hurling brick chips, say eyewitnesses.
The Jamaat activists also vandalised a number of motor vehicles and exploded 25-30 cocktails in the areas.
At about 2:30pm, Jamaat-Shibir activists brought out a procession in Nilkhet area and vandalised more 10-15 vehicles, according to police sources.
Jamaat-e-Islami, a major ally of the BNP-led 18-party alliance observed the countrywide demonstration programme on Monday to press home their demand to immediately release their leaders.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-Shibir activists also locked in clashes with police in Rajshahi and Sylhet and vandalised 20-25 vehicles.
In Rajshahi, Jamaat activists brought out a procession from Ganokpara of Shahebbazar at about 11:00am and locked in clash with police. At least 10 people including three police members were injured during the clash.
Police fired rubber bullets, sound grenades and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the precisionists, according to eyewitnesses.
In Sylhet, Jamaat-Shibir activists suddenly attacked on police at Bandarbazar area and vandalised at least 20 vehicles.
Police arrested at least 16 suspected Jamaat-Shibir activists after the incidents.
