Islamists go on rampage, Archbishop hit

September 20, 2011: Several hundred supporters of Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party went on the rampage in Dhaka on Monday during a protest to demand the release of several of their top leaders arrested on war crimes charges.
More than 100 people including two dozen policemen were injured in the clash which, according to police, flared when the protesters suddenly became violent. Media reports said similar incidents took place in a number of districts across the country.
According to police, at least 120 people were arrested during the course of the Dhaka violence, which took place in the Kakrail district close to where St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Archbishop’s House and St. Joseph’s Seminary are located.
“I haven’t seen clashes like this for twenty years. We’re lucky no Church buildings were affected even though the road outside the cathedral looked like a battlefield,” said Father Kamal Corraya, the social communications commission convener.
Archbishop Paulinus Costa of wasn’t so lucky, having been struck by a stone in Ramna Park, which is next to the cathedral, just as the clash began.
The prelate was exercising in the park when he was struck and several seminarians went to his assistance, but luckily the prelate was unharmed, Archbishop’s House sources said.