The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Over 50 fans of film-star Manna were injured in clashes with police. They tried to get in the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) compound to have a last glimpse of their favourite hero yesterday morning.

Witnesses said Manna's body was taken to the FDC premises at about 10:30am by an ambulance of the United Hospital where he died Sunday of cardiac arrest, in a rather filmy scene as he himself drove in the hospital with his sudden heart ailment.

Thousands of fans of the popular actor in Dhalywood, in an emotional outburst, began pushing and shoving to get in the FDC premises to see his body and pay him their last respect. Many fans climbed trees to have the last glimpse of the film actor.

Thousands of mourners thronged the Shaheed Minar in the morning and blocked roads in and out of the area.

The angry people also gave vent to their grief damaging 3-4 vehicles on the road nearby,

disrupting vehicular movement in the area.

Police, security personnel and the crowds got locked in a series of clashes leaving at least

50 people wounded, including 6 policemen.

During the two-hour-long chase and counter-chase, police also fired teargas shells to disperse the stone-throwing fans of Manna.

Two police officials Bulbul Ahmed and Abdul Mannan were injured in the clashes. The FDC officials took the two to hospital for treatment.

In a statement, acting information secretary Jamil Osman expressed condolences of the death of Manna.

Bikalpadhara president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and son Mahi B Chowdhury went to the FDC to pay their last respect to the actor.

Bangladesh Film Actors Association president Miju Ahmed protested the government's delayed condolence message."This is unfortunate," he said.

"The government's attitude seems that it does not care for film actors," he said.

Relatives took the body to Tangail instead of the Central Shaheed Minar after thousands of film fans strained security measures as they scrambled to pay their last respect to Manna.

Later, Manna body was taken to his village in Tangail district and buried him yesterday at night.