Opposition rally in Bangladesh kills police constable, buses torched in Dhaka

The incident took place in Fakirapool area of the national capital.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police told The Daily Star that the deceased policeman Amirul Parvez served as a constable under the CTTC unit of Daulatpur Upazila of Manikganj.

Police constable Parvez was a native of Manikganj and his family lives in Faizpur village of Tangail's Nagarpur police station, Manikganj SP Mohammad Golam Azad Khan told the news organization.

Bachchu Mia, in charge of the Dhaka Medical College (DMH) Hospital police outpost, said that around 4:30 pm, passers-by brought him to the hospital where the doctor on duty declared him dead.

Meanwhile, at least three buses were set on fire during the clash that erupted at the time of the opposition rally.

The incidents of arson took place in Kalshi, Savar's Hemayetpur and Gazipur's Konabari areas of Dhaka.

Fire Service Headquarters Duty Officer Rashid bin Khalid confirmed this information to The Daily Star.

A bus of Moumita Paribahan was set on fire at Hemayetpur in Savar at 9:18 p.m. A similar incident took place at Kalshi in Mirpur at 9:22 p.m. A third bus was set on fire under the Gazipur flyover around 9:30 p.m.

The Moumita bus was stationed at Hemayetpur when it was set on fire.

The owner of the bus said that he did not know who set the bus on fire.

However, the police claim that they are BNP leaders and workers.

Bus owner Alauddin told The Daily Star, "I went to a peace rally in Dhaka with Awami League leaders and workers by bus. I came back in the evening and parked the bus and went home. The bus was set on fire around 9 pm."

Savar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Deepak Chandra Saha said, "BNP workers set fire to the bus. We are trying to arrest them."

Savar Thana BNP General Secretary Golam Mostafa said, "None of our leaders and workers were involved in the burning of the bus. Awami League and the police are trying to frame BNP leaders and workers by burning the bus."

Gazipur Metropolitan Konabari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) AKM Ashraf Uddin told The Daily Star that BNP activists burned a bus at Konabari on the Dhaka-Tangail highway.

During the clash with the police during the BNP convention in Nayapaltan, several incidents of cars being burnt and vandalized emerged from different parts of Dhaka.

Buses were set on fire in Arambagh and Kakrail in Dhaka.

On the other hand, a fire service engine was vandalized and set on fire under the Shahjahanpur flyover while it was returning after extinguishing fire in one of the turbulent areas.

According to a press release issued by the fire service department, a total of 22 fires were reported.