Four killed in Bangladesh after clashes in ousted PM Hasina's hometown
Bangladeshi security forces on Wednesday clashed with supporters of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, leaving at least four people dead and scores injured, a hospital official and local media said.
The violence erupted in the morning and spread as a new political party formed by students who led the uprising against Hasina in August last year announced a march toward southwestern Gopalgani district, Hasina's ancestral home, and her Awami League party's stronghold.
TV footage showed pro-Hasina activists armed with sticks attacking police and setting vehicles on fire as a convoy of about 20 vehicles carrying the leaders of the National Citizen Party arrived as part of commemorations of the uprising.
Army personnel patrol a street on an armoured vehicle after Awami League party activists allegedly clashed with security personnel. AFP
Top leaders of the party took shelter in the office of the local police chief as footage showed some of them were being escorted by soldiers to an armored vehicle for safety.
Jibitesh Biswas, a senior official of a state-run hospital, told reporters that at least three people were brought in dead.
The country's leading English-language Daily Star reported that four people died. Later on Wednesday, authorities imposed an overnight curfew in the district.
The clashes were triggered after members of Hasina's Awami League attempted to foil a rally by the National Citizens Party (NCP), made up of many students who spearheaded the uprising last year.
Four people were killed after police got involved, and 17 others sustained various injuries, including bullet wounds, said Monoj Baral, a nurse at the Gopalganj District Hospital.
"One of the deceased was identified as Ramjan Sikdar. Families took away two other bodies," Baral told AFP.
Gopalganj authorities imposed a curfew in the district following the violence.
Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus termed the attempt to foil the NCP rally "a shameful violation of their fundamental rights."
"This heinous act... will not go unpunished," a statement from his office said.
The NCP was scheduled to hold the rally as part of their countrywide "July March" programme to commemorate the uprising anniversary, local media reported.
Gopalganj is a stronghold of the Awami League, as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — the founding president of Bangladesh — hailed from this district, and Hasina also contested elections from this constituency.
Hasnat Abdullah, an NCP coordinator, said those rallying took refuge at a police station after being attacked.
"We don't feel safe at all. They threatened to burn us alive," Hasnat told AFP.
The NCP has called for a blockade in response to the violence.
Agencies
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