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While protesting against the disrespect of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in National Mosque severe clashes took place between several Islamic parties along with general Muslims and Police forces.
More than hundred round bullets, tear-shells and rubber bullets were fired by police, turning north-gate region of National Mosque, Purana Paltan and Press club areas into a war-zone.
At least fifty including journalists and police were injured as a result of the conflict.
In relation to the preplanned demonstration program set by several Islamic parties and Scholar groups, intense security measures were strengthened at the capital from noon at National Mosque and its adjacent areas.
A large number of law enforcers were deployed as well.
In the meantime people heading for Friday (Jummah) prayer were from entering the National Masque by police.
A number of Muslims even complained about being harassed during Police checks.
"We are here to raise voice and our fight is against the defamation done to the Prophet of Allah by the anti-Islamic bloggers who used vulgar and abusive languages,
who showed the audacity to talk ill of the Almighty Allah and against banning Islamic political parties."
“Why are the mosque gates closed, we came here to pray? We are not Shibir, we came here because they spoke against Allah and his Prophet.”
We the general Muslims are here to protest against the attacks and violence being done on Islam by the bloggers.” 00:01:23,000,00:01:27,000 At some point, some police locked several gates of the mosque.
But at some point outraged Muslims broke into the Mosque which transformed the situation into total fray.
Meanwhile several TV reporters were hurt.
Muslims, after the Jummah prayer, marched for a demonstration.
Police blocked the Muslims while coursing to Shahbag crossing Paltan and press club areas.
Police began attacking the marching Muslims by firing rubber bullets, shotgun rounds and tear shells.
The continuous bullet shots turned the area into a battlefield.
In the meantime a number of general Muslims got confined inside the Mosque complex.
Invective remarks made by several Shahbag demonstration bloggers regarding Islam, Islam’s Prophet Muhammad and many of Islam’s beliefs and practices,
Was the reason behind the demonstration in National Mosque, which soon spread across the Capital
This incident caused injuries to police men, journalists, members of Islamic parties and hundreds of general people.
N.M Badshah, Diganta Television Dhaka
During Jummah prayer a conflict also erupted between general Muslims and Police in Katabon area of the Capital.
Several were injured from Police bullets. A number of general Muslims were arrested from the area.
Confrontation led to the injury of Shahbag’s OC in-charge.
Initially, arguments started between police and Muslims before Jummah Prayer regarding entering the mosque.
At that time, police tried arresting few men but failed. Hand to hand confrontation injured Shahbag’s OC in-charge.
Police came in action soon after the Jummah prayer.
Quite a number of people were shot and injured by the police.
Police fired rubber bullets and tear shells to bring the situation under control.
As part of the several Islamic parties’ preplanned demonstration program, the pre-announced procession from Katabon
could not be carried out due to Police interruptions. Police’s such role heated Muslims up.
Later some of the Muslims were arrested. The arrested men claimed they are British citizens.
In order to save Islam they are ready to sacrifice any fate.
“I am here from London. The atheist, anti-Islamic personnel are trying to eliminate Islam from Bangladesh,
…therefore, I’m here to protest against them. However, I’ve been attacked,
…police ripped off my dress (panjabi), my prayer cap is thrown to the ground, I have been beaten until I started to bleed”
During the time people of the area turned panic stricken. For some time transports and vehicles stopped running.
Later on that day, agitators from Shahbag Projonmo chottor set out a procession enchanting anti Jammat-shibir slogan. (Chanting public: “Catch one shibir after another, and slaughter them, slaughter them”)
Other than this place Azimpur residents tried to march a demonstration but had to stop for Police interruption.
In presence of police men local Awami leaders enchanted “Joy Bangla” slogan which results serious agitation.
Later Awami people started throwing brick-bats to the Muslims who were about to leave the place.
Meanwhile, including capital’s Malibagh and Mirpur, Muslims staged demonstration at several areas.
During this period police chasing and counter-chasing occured.
(Khurshid Babu, Diganta Television, Dhaka)
The injured from the clash between Police and members of the like-minded Islamic parties have been brought to medical hospitals under police custody.
Arif Hossain Hiru, the proprietor of a multi-purpose company of Jatrabari is a regular attendee of Baitu Mukarram, he came to perform Jummah prayer.
After Jummah he was waiting for the transport in front of press-club.
The subsequent scenario was like this.
Some media workers took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with severe injury.
Later his brother informed that Hiru had no political identity, he was not involved with any party.
One of the Awami supporters also received bullet injury while police were firing at mob.
His relatives rushed to DMCH.
Police arrested some of the protesters from hospital after treatment.
More than fifty people, injured from that clash, were treated in Dhaka Medical.
Meanwhile a journalist was shot by police in front of Bangladesh Crime Reporters’ Association at Shegunbagicha.
Islamic 12 party and like-minded Islamic parties announced for a day long strike on Sunday and a demonstration on Monday
in protest of random firing at their procession and gatherings leaving four people dead.
This announcement declared from the press conference at Kamrangichor.
Local leaders vehemently condemned the entrance of Police wearing shoes into the Mosque,
attack of Chhatra league-Jubo League in the presence of Police at several places and government’s stand against Islam.
They claimed the attack on reporters have been done to cause controversy surrounding the demonstration.
In the meantime the supporters of Shahbagh movement have started regrouping at Shahbagh.
Right after the clash took place between Police and the prayer going Muslim protestors begin regrouping themselves.
No transports ran during the time. The demonstrators from here issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the arrest of Amardesh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed stated that BNP will set up ‘Gonotranta’ (Democracy) stages across the country with a view to establish democracy, rule of law and freedom of judiciary.
He also commented that the Shahbag’s movement is going to be ended by the suggestion of those people who initially suggested its inception.
The attack on Islamic scholars has put the country in crisis, claimed Ruhul Alam Chowdhury,
former adviser of the caretaker government Major General (retd).
Ruhul Amin said so in a roundtable session arranged by Bangladesh National Awami Party (Bangladesh NAP)
at the National Press Club in the capital on the occasion of the Pilkhana tragedy.
Former adviser to the caretaker government and BNP chairperson's adviser Major General (retd) Ruhul Alam Chowdhury
addressed the programme as the chief guest with the party chairman Jebel Rahman Ghaani presiding at.
Chairman of Bangladesh Kalyan Party Major General (retd) Ibrahim Birpratik, NPP Chairman Sheikh Shawkat Hossain Nilu and others addressed the meeting.
Ruhul Amin also commented that with the aim to conceal various failure of the government like the issues including the
nation’s most tainted tragedy took place in Pilkhana, such movement of young ones in Shahbagh is nothing but a drama set by the government.
He also insisted on declaring the Pilkhana tragedy day as the national mourning day.
In a discussion program arranged by Bangladesh Democratic Council Barrister Moudud Ahmed said
that Awami League is responsible for drawing an end to the 1952’s spirit through establishing Bakshal (one party) movement.
He said that the country people want the punishment of the war criminals but this isn’t the only want.
He also mentioned that 'Shahbag Movement' is suicidal for the government.
“They say they want justice to prevail, they say they want independence of the legal system, on the other hand, the claim of this demonstration (Shahbag), that everyone should be hanged, whether there is any witnesses to prove the accusations against them or not, as long as they are alleged to be war criminals they should be hanged. And the Prime Minister agrees to their demand”.
We are going to create ‘Democracy stage’ in every single district, including the Capital…”
Meanwhile to oppose the speech of Awami general secretary Ashraful Islam against the treatment of Begum Khaleda Zia in Singapur,
BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi organized a press conference and said that Asraful Islam’s speech is madness.
He also complained that this govt. is dominating the country with *** and abduction.