Injured protesters call off demo in front of CA residence
Protesters who were injured during last year's mass uprising called off their demonstration early today after receiving assurances that their demands will be met.
Earlier, they took position in front of the residence of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus around midnight, breaching security barricades along the way.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Masud Alam, deputy commissioner (Ramna Division), said the protesters left the spot around 1:45am after Hasnat Abdullah, central coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, gave them assurances.
One of the injured protesters, Monir Hasan, said Hasnat told them that some of the demands will be met this week and the remaining in the coming days.
"Now we are depending on the action of the government and his assurances."
Earlier, witnesses said dozens of protesters first broke through a barricade set up by the police near the Intercontinental Hotel in Shahbagh around midnight. They then tried to breach another barricade set up by the army near the State Guest House Jamuna, the residence of the chief adviser.
Law enforcers managed the situation non-violently. Siraj Uddin, a police official at Ramna Police Station, confirmed that police from Ramna division and other units have been sent to the spot.
Around 12:30am, Hasnat arrived and tried to calm the protesters.
Protesters vowed not to back down without written government assurance that their demands -- proper treatment, rehabilitation, and state recognition -- would be met. They also demanded that a representative of the chief adviser meet them.
Earlier in the day, they blocked the Shishu Mela intersection in Shaymoli, issuing a 4:00pm ultimatum for a written commitment from the government. The blockade continued throughout the day.
By evening, protesters marched toward the chief adviser's residence but were stopped near the Intercontinental Hotel at 7:30pm, where they staged a sit-in.
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