Bangladesh

7 hurt as cops foil march for adivasis

Govt vows to bring perpetrators to justice
Police disperse protesters in Dhaka
Photo: Prabir Das

At least seven persons were injured yesterday as police used water cannons, lobbed sound grenades and charged batons to disperse a protest march towards the home ministry against the attack on an indigenous group and its supporters the day before.

Six of the injured were students.

On Wednesday, at least 20 people were injured when members of Students for Sovereignty assaulted an indigenous group protesting outside the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) office in Motijheel over the removal of the term "adivasi" (indigenous) from textbooks.

In protest, students and other protesters under the banner of "Aggrieved Student-Masses", on Wednesday night announced a march towards the home ministry.

Justice for indigenous community Bangladesh
Photo: Prabir Das

As scheduled, they gathered at the Raju Bhaskarjo at Dhaka University around 11:30am yesterday, demanding the arrest and trial of those involved in the attack.

From there, they started the march towards the ministry.

Police intercepted the protesters around 12:30pm when the march reached Shikkha Bhaban, where barricades were set up.

As the protesters tried to advance dismantling the barricades, police used water cannons to disperse them. They were also seen charging batons, pushing some women protesters to the ground.

At least two sound grenades were lobbed, witnesses said.

After a brief chase and counter-chase, the protesters retreated towards the TSC area via Doel Chattar.

Traffic remained halted in the area for almost an hour and it became normal around 1:15pm.

A group of the demonstrators also staged a protest in front of the DU proctor's office and questioned how police could carry out such an attack on campus.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ramna Division) Masud Alam said law enforcers had to intervene as the protesters ignored their proposal to send a small delegation to the Secretariat.

"We have no disagreement with their demands. Our intention was not to harm them; we only dispersed them," he told reporters when asked.

However, protesters said police had no reason to attack on their peaceful demonstration.

"Police baton-charged us repeatedly, used water cannons, and threw sound grenades. Six to seven people were injured... We strongly condemn this assault," said Joyma Munmun, a leader of the Socialist Students' Front and a student of Eden College.

Sheikh Ferdoush, a photojournalist of the Bangla daily Shomoyer Alo, was also attacked while taking photos of the march and police action on protesters.

Photo: Prabir Das

"At one point, the police began chasing the protesters and using batons indiscriminately... As I was taking photos, an officer hit me with a baton," he said.

The protesters said the injured took treatment at the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

They are Tasmia Tabassum Nebula, 22, a third-year law student at DU; Zahidul Islam Riyad, 22; Maruf Hossain, 20, a first-year Bangla student at Northern University; Taiyab Islam, 24, a third-year economics student at Dhaka College; Ivan Tahsib, 23, a fourth-year journalism student at Jagannath University; Sumaiya Khatun, 24, a fourth-year social work student at Eden College; and a passer-by Md Babul, 48.

Md Faruk, in-charge of DMCH Police Outpost, said their conditions were not critical.

TWO HELD OVER WEDNESDAY'S ATTACK

Meanwhile, police have shown arrested two members of Students for Sovereignty for attacking the indigenous group on Wednesday.

The arrestees are Arif Al Khabir, 38 and Md Abbas, 24.

They were sent to jail yesterday after they were produced before a Dhaka court under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Contacted, Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of DMP, said since no case was filed regarding the incident as of yet, the suspects were sent to court under the Section 54 first.

He also said once a case is lodged, they will be shown as arrested in that case.

CALL FOR JUSTICE RINGS LOUDER

In a statement yesterday, the government strongly condemned the attack. It said the government has ordered an investigation, and two persons have already been arrested in this connection.

All miscreants will be brought to justice, it said.

The Dhaka University authorities, in a statement yesterday, also condemned the attack on its students by "Students for Sovereignty" on Wednesday.

The statement said Students for Sovereignty has no affiliation with the university. It said the university authorities would take immediate disciplinary action against the students of the said organisation involved in the attack.

The statement condemned yesterday's police action on protesters and demanded a thorough investigation and appropriate action against those law enforcers' involved.

The authorities said they would take all necessary measures for the treatment of the DU students injured in the two attacks.

NAGORIK COMMITTEE MEMBER EXPELLED

Meanwhile, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee has expelled Shahadat Farazi Sakib, a member of its Dhanmondi committee, amid allegations that he was involved in the attack.

In a notice, it stated that Sakib's recent actions violated its code of discipline and core principles of the organisation.

Sakib reportedly shared social media posts supporting the group and was seen present at the scene of the attack.

Earlier, Students Against Discrimination, a students group who led the uprising that toppled Awami league-led government, demanded organisational action against Sakib.

A man tries to help an injured protester up while another tries to get up after police charged truncheons, used stun grenades and water canons to disperse a procession of students heading towards the Secretariat. They took out the procession to protest the attack on an indeginous group on Wednesday. The photo was taken near Shikkha Bhaban. Photo: Prabir Das

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7 hurt as cops foil march for adivasis

Govt vows to bring perpetrators to justice
Police disperse protesters in Dhaka
Photo: Prabir Das

At least seven persons were injured yesterday as police used water cannons, lobbed sound grenades and charged batons to disperse a protest march towards the home ministry against the attack on an indigenous group and its supporters the day before.

Six of the injured were students.

On Wednesday, at least 20 people were injured when members of Students for Sovereignty assaulted an indigenous group protesting outside the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) office in Motijheel over the removal of the term "adivasi" (indigenous) from textbooks.

In protest, students and other protesters under the banner of "Aggrieved Student-Masses", on Wednesday night announced a march towards the home ministry.

Justice for indigenous community Bangladesh
Photo: Prabir Das

As scheduled, they gathered at the Raju Bhaskarjo at Dhaka University around 11:30am yesterday, demanding the arrest and trial of those involved in the attack.

From there, they started the march towards the ministry.

Police intercepted the protesters around 12:30pm when the march reached Shikkha Bhaban, where barricades were set up.

As the protesters tried to advance dismantling the barricades, police used water cannons to disperse them. They were also seen charging batons, pushing some women protesters to the ground.

At least two sound grenades were lobbed, witnesses said.

After a brief chase and counter-chase, the protesters retreated towards the TSC area via Doel Chattar.

Traffic remained halted in the area for almost an hour and it became normal around 1:15pm.

A group of the demonstrators also staged a protest in front of the DU proctor's office and questioned how police could carry out such an attack on campus.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ramna Division) Masud Alam said law enforcers had to intervene as the protesters ignored their proposal to send a small delegation to the Secretariat.

"We have no disagreement with their demands. Our intention was not to harm them; we only dispersed them," he told reporters when asked.

However, protesters said police had no reason to attack on their peaceful demonstration.

"Police baton-charged us repeatedly, used water cannons, and threw sound grenades. Six to seven people were injured... We strongly condemn this assault," said Joyma Munmun, a leader of the Socialist Students' Front and a student of Eden College.

Sheikh Ferdoush, a photojournalist of the Bangla daily Shomoyer Alo, was also attacked while taking photos of the march and police action on protesters.

Photo: Prabir Das

"At one point, the police began chasing the protesters and using batons indiscriminately... As I was taking photos, an officer hit me with a baton," he said.

The protesters said the injured took treatment at the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

They are Tasmia Tabassum Nebula, 22, a third-year law student at DU; Zahidul Islam Riyad, 22; Maruf Hossain, 20, a first-year Bangla student at Northern University; Taiyab Islam, 24, a third-year economics student at Dhaka College; Ivan Tahsib, 23, a fourth-year journalism student at Jagannath University; Sumaiya Khatun, 24, a fourth-year social work student at Eden College; and a passer-by Md Babul, 48.

Md Faruk, in-charge of DMCH Police Outpost, said their conditions were not critical.

TWO HELD OVER WEDNESDAY'S ATTACK

Meanwhile, police have shown arrested two members of Students for Sovereignty for attacking the indigenous group on Wednesday.

The arrestees are Arif Al Khabir, 38 and Md Abbas, 24.

They were sent to jail yesterday after they were produced before a Dhaka court under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Contacted, Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of DMP, said since no case was filed regarding the incident as of yet, the suspects were sent to court under the Section 54 first.

He also said once a case is lodged, they will be shown as arrested in that case.

CALL FOR JUSTICE RINGS LOUDER

In a statement yesterday, the government strongly condemned the attack. It said the government has ordered an investigation, and two persons have already been arrested in this connection.

All miscreants will be brought to justice, it said.

The Dhaka University authorities, in a statement yesterday, also condemned the attack on its students by "Students for Sovereignty" on Wednesday.

The statement said Students for Sovereignty has no affiliation with the university. It said the university authorities would take immediate disciplinary action against the students of the said organisation involved in the attack.

The statement condemned yesterday's police action on protesters and demanded a thorough investigation and appropriate action against those law enforcers' involved.

The authorities said they would take all necessary measures for the treatment of the DU students injured in the two attacks.

NAGORIK COMMITTEE MEMBER EXPELLED

Meanwhile, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee has expelled Shahadat Farazi Sakib, a member of its Dhanmondi committee, amid allegations that he was involved in the attack.

In a notice, it stated that Sakib's recent actions violated its code of discipline and core principles of the organisation.

Sakib reportedly shared social media posts supporting the group and was seen present at the scene of the attack.

Earlier, Students Against Discrimination, a students group who led the uprising that toppled Awami league-led government, demanded organisational action against Sakib.

A man tries to help an injured protester up while another tries to get up after police charged truncheons, used stun grenades and water canons to disperse a procession of students heading towards the Secretariat. They took out the procession to protest the attack on an indeginous group on Wednesday. The photo was taken near Shikkha Bhaban. Photo: Prabir Das

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