2 arms-wielding BCL leaders expelled

THE ruling Awami League-backed student body Bangladesh Chhatara League on Monday expelled two leaders on charge of breaching the party rules by wielding firearms during clashes with hawkers in an eviction drive at Gulistan on October 27.
Chhatra League’s Dhaka sought city unit general secretary Sabbir Hossain and Wari thana unit general secretary Ashiqur Rahman, who were seen wielding fire arms during the eviction 
drive by Dhaka South City Corporation at Gulistan in presence of police.
Chhatra League central executive committee made the decision at an emergency meeting Monday evening, a release said.
A clash broke out between hawkers and Dhaka South City Corporation staffs during an eviction drive to remove makeshift shops from pavements and the underpass market at Gulistan on October 27.
Referring to the expulsion of two Dhaka city Chhatra League leaders for brandishing arms, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said, ‘Organisational actions will be taken against those who will breach discipline.’ 
The party has already started taking action against the activists who are tarnishing the image of the government and the Awami League as well, he said at an extended meeting of the Dhaka north city AL over preparations for observing Jail Killing Day on November 3.
Dhaka south city mayor Sayeed Khokon on Saturday said that such gunshots were ‘an emotional outburst’ of those two individuals. ‘We will not take the responsibility of any individual’s actions,’ he said. 
The evicted hawkers brought out a protest rally on October 27 against the eviction drive alleging that the drive was conducted without notice. Sabbir and Ashiqur were seen brandishing firearms to disperse agitating hawkers.
Chhatra League and other associated bodies of the ruling Awami League came in support of the city corporation and opened fire at the hawkers, who also pelted stones at them.
Newspapers, including, New Age, published a photo of the two in action on Friday. 
Dhaka Metropolitan Police said on Monday that they had identified the two who opened gunshots during the eviction drive at Gulistan.
‘We are conducting drives to arrest them and recover the arms used by them during the eviction drive,’ said Paltan police station officer-in-charge Rafiqul Islam. 
He said that a case was filed in connection with the incident, but no specific case was filed in connection with the use of firearms during the eviction drive.  
 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net