At least four people were killed and over 50 others injured in a clash between police and local people at a demonstration programme of general Muslims at Eidgah ground in Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola on Sunday.

Four people- Mizan, Mahfuz Patwari, Shaheen and Mahbub Patwari-were killed, said Dr Abul Kalam Azad, medical officer of Bhola Sadar Hospital.  

Locals and police sources said, a message vilifying Allah and Mohammad (SM) was sent to several Facebook friends through messenger from Biplab Chandra’s Facebook ID.

Talking to local journalists, Sarkar Mohammad Kaisar, Superintendent of Bhola Police, said, “The clash took place centering the hacking of a Facebook ID on October 18. We detained all those involved in ID hacking. They’re now in custody. We sat in a meeting with local influential people, public representatives, imams and Alem who had assured us that they wouldn’t hold their scheduled protest programme today (Sunday),”he said.

But, today they started taking preparations to hold the programme and then police appeared at the scene, the SP said.

“When we’re leaving the place after the rally, some people started throwing brick chipsat us forcing us to take shelter in an adjoining building and fire blank shots,” the SP said.

“Biplob also said someone demanded extortion from him over mobile phone,” he said.

Meanwhile, one platoon of BGB troops was sent to the spot in helicopters while another three platoons were sent by road to quell the situation,” said Md Shariful Islam, public relations officer at the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) headquarters. 

Besides, one platoon of Bangladesh Coast Guard have been deployed on the spot, said Lt Hayat-Ibne-Siddique, media officer of Coast Guard headquarters.