Gono Odhikar protests against commodity price rise, clashes with cops
Gono Odhikar Parishad has brought out a procession and held a rally in the capital city, protesting at the upsurge in prices of essential commodities.
A clash ensued between the organisation's activists and the police at Shahbag when they obstructed the protesters, leaving around 50 people injured.
From the procession, police also detained 10 leaders and activists, the organisation claimed.
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The procession started near the National Press Club on Friday after being barred by police at Central Shaheed Minar. Attended by hundreds of activists, the procession was then halted near the Shahbag intersection by police.
The procession, later, paraded through Matshya Bhaban, Press Club, Paltan, Gulistan, Golap Shah Mazar, Bijoy Nagar and ended at Kakrail.
The organisation then held a short rally at Kakrail intersection amid shouting slogans condemning the continuous price hike.
Condemning the attack on procession, Gono Odhikar Parishad member secretary and also former VP of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) Nurul Haque Nur said, "Our programme was expected to be held at central Shaheed Minar. But police, Sramik League, Jubo League and Chhatra League captured the place and beat up our leaders-activists. Then we brought out a procession near the press club but police swooped on us at Shahbag."
Gono Odhikar Parishad Convener Reza Kibria said, "Snatching people's right to hold meeting-rally proves Awami League's political bankruptcy. We are urging the government to control the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and release of our leaders-activists."
Otherwise, the Awami League government will be ousted with the help of people of the country, he warns.
Additional deputy commissioner for Ramna Zone Harun-or-Rashid told TBS, "The organisation had no permission to hold a rally at Shaheed Minar due to the book fair. So, we did not allow them to hold demonstration there."
He also denied that any attack was launched on the activists.
