Police raid on BNP office

After a clash with BNP leaders and workers in Naya Paltan in the capital, a police team entered the party's central office and are conducting an operation.

A team of police entered the BNP office and closed the collapsible gate at around 4:30 pm on Wednesday. It is learnt that the search was started inside the office.

BNP alleges that police are arresting BNP leaders and workers inside the office en masse.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir tried to enter the office, but the police did not allow him to enter, BNP said.

Failing to enter the office, Mirza Fakhrul sat on the footpath with the activists, sources added.

A man named Maqbul Hossain was killed in a police clash with the leaders and activists of BNP in front of party's headquarters in Naya Paltan in the capital.

He died around 4 pm on Wednesday while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said DMCH Police Outpost In-charge (Inspector) Bachchu Mia.

He said, "The victim's body had a shotgun wound."

Mostafizur Rahman, publicity secretary of Jagannath University Chhatra Dal, told The Daily Samakal, "Maqbul Hossain was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital from Naya Paltan on at 3:45pm where the doctor declared him dead.

BNP men clashed with police in front of the BNP headquarters in Naya Paltan, where party members gathered since the morning ahead of the rally to be held on December 10.

Hundreds of BNP members were seen shouting slogans and waving banners in front of the party's headquarters, ignoring orders from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) that the party could not organize a rally on the city's congested streets.

Around 3pm, the police fired tear shells to disperse the crowd.