UNB: At least 50 people, including several journalists, were injured in a clash between Muslim devotees and police in the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area on Friday afternoon.
Clashes erupted when police barred people from bringing out a procession after Jum’a prayers protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After the Jum’a prayers, many devotees started shouting slogans near the north gate of the mosque against Modi’s arrival, prompting police to fire rubber bullets and charge batons.
Jubo League and Chhatra League activists were also seen around the mosque during the clash. Two motorcycles were set afire in front of the north gate of the mosque where the clashes continued till 2:30pm.
UNB Correspondent M Jahangir Alam was hit by a rubber bullet while reporting from the site.
Clashes broke out again at the south gate of the mosque and continued till 3:30pm. Three motorcycles were set ablaze this time.
Protestors and ruling party activists hurled stones and bricks at each other. Police fired a few rounds of teargas canisters to bring the situation under control.
Before Jum’a prayers, police and Rab personnel took positions at different strategic points around the national mosque. They were accompanied by activists of Bangladesh Chattra League, Jubo League and other wings of the ruling party.
Indian Prime Minister Modi arrived in Dhaka on a two-day visit to join the twin celebrations of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence. It is Modi’s first visit outside India since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
