Police’s statement on Bhola incident

Police headquarters released a statement to avoid any confusion among the people about the incident that happened in Bhola's Borhanuddin on Sunday. 
 
Through the press release, signed by AIG Sohel Rana, police expressed condolences over the deaths of four local people in the clash. 
 
In the statement, police said, on October 18, 2019, Biplob Chandra Baidya filed a general diary with in Borhanuddin police station after his Facebook account was hacked. When he was filing the general diary at the police station, someone called on his mobile phone and demanded extortion money. Biplob informed police about it instantly and police notified the superintendent of police in Bhola. 
 
Using technology, police tracked down and arrested two men named Sharif, who called Biplob to demand money, and Emon over hacking Biplob's Facebook account. 
 
Police say, some comments made on Facebook by using Biplob's account angered religious people in the area. Consequently, the Muslim scholars in the area demanded capital punishment of Biplob.
 
The protesters announced to organise a protest rally in the local Eidgah on October 20 (Sunday).
 
But on October 19, the deputy commissioner of the district, officer in charge of the police station, local representatives of the people and religious scholars discussed the matter for a long time at Borhan Uddin police station.  Due to the allegations made by the Muslim scholars, Biplob Chandra Baidya shown detained by the police, said the press release. 
 
After getting assurance on proper legal actions, the representatives of the Muslim scholars cancelled their meeting scheduled on October 20.
 
Despite the cancellation of the meeting, police remained alert. On Sunday, people started gathering at the Eidgah. Policemen were deployed in the area to counter any untoward situation, said the press release from police headquarters. 
 
When the authority asked the people gathered at the Eidgah to disperse, the Muslim scholars assured them that the crowd will not create any disturbance. At the same time Additional DIG of the police range went to Bhola. 
 
The additional DIG of police and Upazila nirbahi officer made speeches addressing the crowd to calm them down. The gathered people left the Eidgah after their assurance.
 
However, after that superintendent of police and the additional DIG went to a room in the Madrassa, another group of people started inciting normal religious people, said the press release from police. 
 
Suddenly a group of people attacked the police officials and others staying in the room inside the madrassa. Some of the attackers were carrying firearms said, the press release by police. 
 
Some policemen, including the additional DIG of Barishal range was injured too, said police. 
 
In this situation, police fired tear-shells and then shotguns in self defence following upazila nirbahi officer and executive magistrate's order. When the situation turned more violent, police fired another time following the magistrate's order. 
 
One of the policemen injured in the incident was transferred to Combined Military Hospital. Four of the other policemen suffered blows by blunt instruments on their heads. 
 
In the statement, police headquarters said it formed a five-member committee, headed by the Barishal range DIG. Representatives from police headquarters, Special Branch, PBI and district police will be included in it.
 
The committee has been asked to file its report within seven working days.