Protesters clash with cops over gas price hike

A protest by Left-wing political parties against the recent hike in gas price turned violent with protesters clashing with the police near the Jatiya Press Club yesterday. Several people, including policemen, were injured in the clash.
Police used water cannons and fired tear shells and blank shots to foil the protesters from marching towards the Secretariat to lay siege to the energy ministry. 
The protesters retaliated by hurling brickbats at the law enforcers.
The Left-leaning political parties had gathered in front of the Jatiya Press Club around noon as part of their pre-announced programme to siege the energy ministry to demand withdrawal of the gas price hike.
They brought out a procession on the streets near the High Court and Paltan and came back to the press club.
When the procession tried to approach the link road to the Secretariat, police stopped them. The processionists then tried to break the police barricade and jostled with the law enforcers.
Police at one point started using water cannons to disperse the protesters. In retaliation, the protesters hurled brickbats. Later, the law enforcers fired tear gas shells and blank shots. They also charged at some protesters with batons, injuring several people.
The police offensive forced some of the protesters to take shelter inside the press club and others to flee to adjacent areas.
Communist Party central leader Ruhin Hossain Prince said at least 40 to 50 activists were injured in the police attack.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital sources said at least 15 protesters were brought in for treatment at the emergency department.
Defending the police action, assistant deputy commissioner (Ramna Zone) Nafis Kamal said the protesters had attacked the water cannons and armoured personnel carriers as well as vandalised several private vehicles during the clash. He said around 20 policemen were also injured, adding that they had brought the situation under control. 
He, however, denied the allegation that the police had fired rubber bullets.
Protesting the police action, the Left-leaning political parties later staged a demonstration in front of the Jatiya Press Club. Ruhin said their whole programme was peaceful, but police fired rubber bullets, tear gas shells and water cannons without any provocation.
He said the government could have sent a delegation of the energy ministry to meet the protesters, but it had chosen not to follow that path. “Everything could be resolved through dialogue, but police chased us. This is really unfortunate,” he added.

Protesters clash with cops over gas price hike

A protest by Left-wing political parties against the recent hike in gas price turned violent with protesters clashing with the police near the Jatiya Press Club yesterday. Several people, including policemen, were injured in the clash. Police used water cannons and fired tear shells and blank shots to foil the protesters from marching towards the Secretariat to lay siege to the energy ministry. The protesters retaliated by hurling brickbats at the law enforcers. The Left-leaning political parties had gathered in front of the Jatiya Press Club around noon as part of their pre-announced programme to siege the energy ministry to demand withdrawal of the gas price hike. They brought out a procession on the streets near the High Court and Paltan and came back to the press club. When the procession tried to approach the link road to the Secretariat, police stopped them. The processionists then tried to break the police barricade and jostled with the law enforcers. Police at one point started using water cannons to disperse the protesters. In retaliation, the protesters hurled brickbats. Later, the law enforcers fired tear gas shells and blank shots. They also charged at some protesters with batons, injuring several people. The police offensive forced some of the protesters to take shelter inside the press club and others to flee to adjacent areas. Communist Party central leader Ruhin Hossain Prince said at least 40 to 50 activists were injured in the police attack. Dhaka Medical College Hospital sources said at least 15 protesters were brought in for treatment at the emergency department. Defending the police action, assistant deputy commissioner (Ramna Zone) Nafis Kamal said the protesters had attacked the water cannons and armoured personnel carriers as well as vandalised several private vehicles during the clash. He said around 20 policemen were also injured, adding that they had brought the situation under control. He, however, denied the allegation that the police had fired rubber bullets. Protesting the police action, the Left-leaning political parties later staged a demonstration in front of the Jatiya Press Club. Ruhin said their whole programme was peaceful, but police fired rubber bullets, tear gas shells and water cannons without any provocation. He said the government could have sent a delegation of the energy ministry to meet the protesters, but it had chosen not to follow that path. Everything could be resolved through dialogue, but police chased us. This is really unfortunate, he added.