The police charged batons on a group of students of Prime Asia University in front of the Bangladesh Secretariat, following an altercation and chase and counter-chase between the two sides on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident took place at about 3:00pm when the students took position before the secretariat demanding a permanent campus and removal of the board of trustees of the university.
Shahbagh police station officer-in-charge Khalid Mansur said that the police prevented the private university students when they were creating chaos and trying to enter the secretariat.
Being barred by the policemen, the students left the spot.
Witnesses said that police fired two rounds of blank shots in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
Denying the blank fires, the police official said, 鈥業t鈥檚 disinformation. The law enforcers did not open fire or use tear gas to disperse the students.鈥�
On August 26, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police placed an indefinite ban on holding any type of meeting, gathering, procession, rally and demonstration in areas surrounding Bangladesh Secretariat and the chief adviser鈥檚 official residence at the state guest house Jamuna.
Various media outlets live-streamed the incident showing police charging batons on students. Some police members were even seen kicking a student who fell on the ground during the chase.
The students began their demonstration near the National Press Club with a nine-point demand and later moved on to the secretariat.
The protesting students said that police baton-charged them and later fired two rounds of blank shots.
鈥榃e were standing there peacefully but the police would not let us stay. They charged batons on us and even our teachers who came to support us,鈥� a student said.
Earlier on December 21, Prime Asia University students blocked road at the capital鈥檚 Banani-Kakoli crossing pressing for the same demand.
