BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday questioned the 'inactive role’ of police in stopping the day-long clashes between shopkeepers and Dhaka College students in the city’s New Market area that killed a courier service employee.

"One person was killed and several others were seriously injured in a series of clashes between students and businessmen in New Market area yesterday (Tuesday). My question is why police played an inactive role. A police officer said they were inactive for strategic reasons,” he said.

Speaking at a programme at the BNP chairperson's office in Gulshan, Fakhrul wanted to know the explanation of the ‘strategic reasons’ behind the law enforcers’ inaction to stop the violence, UNB reports. BNP arranged the programme to provide assistance and gifts ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr to the family members of the party leaders and activists who were killed, tortured and made disappeared.

The BNP leader said the current government has completely failed to run the country and deliver on all fronts. “This failed government has now turned the country into a failed state as they have no control anywhere and there is no accountability anywhere.” He also bemoaned that police and other departments of the government have no accountability, creating a lawlessness situation in the country.

At least 40 people were injured as a group of Dhaka College students and shopkeepers in New Market area fought pitched battles on Tuesday following an altercation at a fast food shop on Monday night. Courier service employee Nahid Hasan who was injured during the clash died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday night.