50 hurt in pro-BNP lawyers-police clash
OC Shahinur claimed that the police did not beat up pro-BNP lawyers
At least 50 people, mostly lawyers, were injured, as clashes erupted between pro-BNP lawyers and police during a procession in front of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Dhaka, as claimed by pro-BNP lawyers.
The lawyers, led by former secretary-general of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Barrister Mahbub Uddin, brought out the procession from the Dhaka Bar Association on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of the Awami League government.
Shairul Kabir Khan, a member of BNP's media cell, told The Business Standard (TBS), "At least 50 lawyers were injured as the police charged batons on the agitating lawyers."
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Pro-BNP lawyer Dewan Humayun Kabir said, "Lawyers, under the banner of United Lawyers Front, gathered on the court premises in the morning. When the lawyers started moving towards the street, the police allegedly began charging batons without provocation."
However, Shahinur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station, gave a different account of the incident.
The OC claimed that the pro-BNP lawyers attempted to block the street with their procession. The police repeatedly requested them to finish their procession on the court premises. Being obstructed by the police, the lawyers allegedly responded by throwing bricks, injuring four police officers.
OC Shahinur claimed that the police did not beat up pro-BNP lawyers.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Bar Association's former president Zainul Abedin visited the injured lawyers at the Dhaka Lawyers Association's office.
The senior BNP leader demanded legal action against those involved, following a proper investigation.
Shakawat Ullah Khan, an adviser to the Jatiyatabadi Lawyers Forum's Dhaka Bar unit, condemned the police's actions, stating, "It is not acceptable that police beat lawyers in this way. Action should be taken against people involved in the incident."
