Ivy, 29 others injured as hawkers brawl with her supporters

Sayeed Muhammad
 At least 30 people were injured, five critically, as hawkers locked into clashes with the followers of Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor (NCC) Selina Hayat Ivy in the city yesterday afternoon. The NCC mayor also sustained minor injuries in her leg during the clash, her brother Ali Ahmed Ripon confirmed, reports The Daily Star. The clash surfaced centring Ivy visiting Chashara along with her followers went to inspect the illegal occupation on footpaths, said Saraf Uddin, assistant superintendent of police in Narayanganj. The hawkers occupied the footpaths in the area this afternoon, a day after ruling Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman reportedly permitted them to, sources said. In wake of the development, the mayor started to walk down the footpaths with her supporters from her NCC office around 4:30pm. Soon after they reached Chashara area, hawkers began hurling brickbats and stones at them, promoting the clash. Later, police fired several rounds of blank shots to disperse the clashing parties. Police estimated 30 people, including Ivy, being injured. Many of the injured were rushed to Narayanganj General Hospital, but five of them were later referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition. On Monday, Shamim Osman, at a rally organised by the hawkers in the city, gave permission to them to sit at the footpath from 4:00pm to 10:00pm until February 21. Following the permission, the hawkers occupied the footpaths yesterday, 21 days after they were evicted by the NCC authorities.