Police attack on Patuakhali AL rally: 50 hurt

By Our Correspondent, Patuakhali
17 January 2006, 18:00 PM
At least 50 Awami League (AL) leaders and activists were injured at Dashmina, a upazila town in the district, when police attacked a protest rally organised by the local unit of the party yesterday.

Police also charged baton on them.

Of the injured, 15 were admitted to local hospital in critical condition.

Of them, Joint Secretary Goutam Roy, Organising Secretary Zakir Hossain, and Chhatra League leaders Enamul Haq and Kazi Shakil Bahauddin Labu are-fighting for life.

The rally was organised to protest the death of Rehana Akter, an AL leader, in a road accident on Dashmina-Patuakhali Road on Sunday.

The organisers said they decided to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner through Upazila Nirbahi Officer, but police attacked the peaceful rally illegally to disperse them.

When contacted, officer-in-charge of Dashmina thana said the AL activists were trying to put up barricade on Dashmina-Patuakhali Road in the name of protest rally.