Vandalising murals, clash: 24 Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal activists held, over 500 sued in Ctg

Police arrested 24 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in Chattogram city early yesterday, over a clash with Chhatra League men and vandalising the glass murals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Wednesday evening.

The arrest was made after police and a BCL activist of Chattogram Government College unit filed two cases against 138 leaders and activists and 400 unnamed persons on Wednesday night.

Sub-Inspector Imarnus Sazzad filed a case with Kotwali Police Station accusing 78 persons of vandalising the murals while college student Shafayet Hossen Raju lodged the other with Chawakbazar Police Station accusing 60 leaders and activists of attacking BCL men from a procession.

The murals were vandalised in the port city's Jamal Khan area following the clash in front of Chattogram Government College during a rally in port city's Kazir Dewri area on Wednesday evening.

However, no senior leaders of BNP, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal were not included in the FIRs, said police.

Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Swechasebak Dal and Jubo Dal of Chattogram organised the rally titled "Youth rally for saving country" demanding restoration of voting rights of youths and an election-time neutral government.

Shafayet, a 4th-year student of Chattogram College, is an active activist of the college unit of BCL.

"Police arrested 24 leaders and activists of Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal in overnight drives in Chawakbazar, Chandgaon and Bakalia area in connection with the vandalism... Among the arrestees, detectives held a Jubo Dal leader Md Nawshad Al Jashedur Rahman from Chandgaon. A two-barrel gun was seized from his possession," said ASM Mahatab Uddin, additional commissioner (crime and operations) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police.

Addressing a press conference, he also said, "We are investigating the cases."