Several injured as police clash with left-leaning demonstrators during protest against Ctg Port deals
As the procession reached Kakrail around 12:20pm, police intervened and attempted to stop the march. Witnesses said pushing and shoving ensued, followed by police baton charges that left several protesters hurt
Police clashed with participants of a protest march organised by several left-leaning groups in Dhaka, leaving a number of demonstrators injured today (4 December).
The march was called to demand the cancellation of what the organisers described as a "national interest–violating" lease agreement for the Laldia–Pangaon Terminal with a foreign company, as well as to halt plans to lease out the New Mooring and Patenga terminals to foreign operators.
The demonstration began with a rally in front of the National Press Club between 11:30am and 12:00pm, jointly organised by the Left Democratic Alliance, the Anti-Fascist Left Forum, Bangladesh Jasad and the National Democratic Front. After the rally, protesters set out towards the chief adviser's residence.
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At a gathering in front of the National Press Club, speakers said that "our beloved motherland is facing the blatant grip of imperialist domination." They stated that the primary responsibility of the current interim government is to hand over power to a government elected through the direct vote of the people.
"Instead of doing that," the speakers alleged, "they are moving to complete the final process of handing over Chattogram's New Mooring Container Terminal to DP World — a company closely linked to the US Navy — in an act beyond their mandate."
They added that, in an unusually rapid process completed in just 13 days, agreements have already been signed to hand over the construction of the Laldia Container Terminal and the lease of the Pangaon river terminal to foreign operators.
According to them, the company has reportedly been granted various benefits, including a 10-year tax exemption.
They further alleged that the contents of this "secret agreement" will not be disclosed to the public, "and this, too, has been announced in an arrogant manner."
As the procession reached Kakrail around 12:20pm, police intervened and attempted to stop the march. Witnesses said pushing and shoving ensued, followed by police baton charges that left several protesters hurt.
Masud Alam, deputy commissioner of Ramna Division police, told Prothom Alo, "Rallies, meetings and gatherings are prohibited in the area surrounding the chief adviser's residence. We held repeated discussions with the organisers about this. When they still tried to move towards Jamuna, police used barricades to stop them. There was some pushing and shoving. It cannot quite be termed a baton charge. They were simply prevented from heading towards Jamuna."
However, Bazlur Rashid Firoz, general secretary of the central committee of the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Basad), alleged that police attacked their peaceful march. He said leaders, including Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) general secretary Abdullah Kafi and central committee member Ruhul Amin, were among those injured.
Following the confrontation, protesters staged a sit-in at Kakrail intersection before dispersing.
In response to what they called a "police attack", Basad's general secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz announced a protest rally and march at 4pm tomorrow (5 December) in front of the National Press Club.
The announcement came at around 1:10pm, after which the demonstrators left Kakrail and concluded their programme at the Press Club.
