[Bangla Daily Star] A series of festivities between BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami...
The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka
The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an
independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
supporters and law enforcers in Chittagong yesterday left at least 100 people including police personnel and journalists injured.
During the two-hour-long festivities, which took place mainly near the BNP's city unit office at Kazir Dewry, commuters were rushing in panic for safer places as the one-kilometre area stretching from Almas Cinema to Enayetbazar and the nearby lanes, turned into a battlefield.
The opposition activists set three cars afire and vandalised around 50 vehicles, said police. Traffic was halted on different important roads including that from Tiger Pass to Wasa intersection because of the festivities.
BNP alleged that the law enforcers tried to foil their scheduled rally organised by the 18-party alliance while police claimed the festivities ensued as Jamaat-Shibir activists hurled brickbats at them.
The clash soon spread to other areas including Lalkhan Bazar, Ashkardighirpar, Mehedibagh, New Market and Chawkbazar.
Law enforcers fired a large number of rubber bullets and tear gas shells, and charged batons on the opposition activists. Police could not give any detail about the number of rubber bullets and tear gas shells they fired, but said their ammunition ran out.
Police also stormed into the BNP office, charged batons on the opposition activists and fired tear gas shells in a room where BNP leaders including its Vice-chairman Abdullah Al Noman and city unit President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury took shelter.