KHULNA, Oct 22, 2022 (BSS) - Over 50 workers, employees and police were injured as Railway Station and a ward Awami League office were vandalized by BNP men this noon on their way to a rally in the city.

Police and locals said, some workers and supporters vandalised Khulna Railway Station and broke its glasses and doors around 12pm following chase and counter chase between Awami League and BNP activists.

AL leaders alleged that local people chased BNP men when they were ransacking the Railway Station. As local people and Railway workers intercepted the vandals, they threw brickbats and swooped on them.

When the on-duty police tried them to stop vandalism, the BNP agitators pelted brickbats targeting law enforcers.

Talking to BSS, Manik Chandra Sarkar, Station Master of Khulna Railway Station, said some passengers come from Jashore, Chuadanga and other stations to Khulna railway station and tried to go outside with a procession and chanting slogans in favour of BNP. As railway workers intercepted them and requested them to go outside in discipline, the agitators swooped on them and attacked with sticks and threw brickbats leaving 20 people injured.

Meanwhile, BNP men ransacked Awami League ward office at Khalishpur Natun Rasta area while marching a procession through BIDC road towards the BNP rally at Dawkbangla area in the city. The BNP men also hurled brickbats and attacked Awami League men injuring 20 to 25 of their workers, claimed Babul Rana, general secretary of city unit AL.

He also alleged that BNP men have turned Khulna into a city of panic carrying illegal guns and sharp weapons while coming to their rally.

Contacted, BNP city unit convener Shafiqul Islam Mona told BSS that Awami League men obstructed their procession in different areas in the city.

They attacked BNP men at Khulna Railway Station area and at least 20 BNP workers received injuries.

Sonali Sen, additional deputy commissioner of KMP told BSS that some outsiders who landed at Khulna Railway Station ransacked glasses centering an altercation with Railway workers. They attacked the workers and on-duty police and pelted bricks upon them leaving five cops injured.
 
BNP's rally is continuing in tight security and nobody intercepted any procession on way to BNP rally, she added.