Clashes erupt at JaPa rally in Kakrail, police fire tear gas

Tension flared in the capital’s Kakrail area surrounding a Jatiya Party (JaPa) rally, as clashes broke out between police and party activists. Police fired tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the crowd.

The rally, held in front of the party’s central office on Saturday afternoon, October 11, was organised to press several demands, including the withdrawal of cases against JaPa leaders and activists and an end to mob violence.

From the beginning of the rally, speakers delivered anti-government remarks. Around 3:30pm, tension escalated between police and the activists, prompting law enforcers to use water cannons, tear gas, and sound grenades to bring the situation under control. The dispersing JaPa activists then took position at several nearby intersections around the party office.

JaPa leaders alleged that police attacked them without provocation during their peaceful demonstration.

At present, the situation in front of the party office remains tense, with a large number of police personnel deployed in the area. Party sources said JaPa Chairman GM Quader and Secretary General Shamim Haider Patwary are inside the office, while police have locked the main gate from outside.

Regarding the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Zone Masud Alam said, “They were blocking the road without permission, disrupting traffic. Despite repeated requests, they refused to move, so they were merely dispersed. No one has been detained.”