16 held, student leader shot
Leaders and activists of Students Against Discrimination and political platform Jatiya Nagorik Committee on Saturday held protest rallies and processions over the Friday night attack on students, leaving 15 people injured in Gazipur.
The police have detained 16 people over the attack, while Gazipur Sadar police officer-in-charge Md Arifur Rahman has been withdrawn in the face of allegations that he reached the place of occurrence two hours later.
At least 15 students were injured in a counterattack by local people as several dozens of students reportedly went to attack the residence of AKM Mozammel Haque, former liberation war affairs minister of the now ousted Awami League government, in Gazipur city on Friday night.
Five of the injured, one of them in critical condition, have been admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while 10 others were admitted to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital in Gazipur.
The incident took place at about 10:00pm on Friday when people, including聽 members of Student Movement Against Discrimination, attempted an attack on the Mozammel Haque鈥檚 house, according to the police and witnesses.
Apparently, the counterattack on students in Gazipur has forced the government to launch a fresh joint force drive dubbed 鈥極peration devil hunt鈥� across the country, including Gazipur.
Home affairs adviser retired lieutenant general Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Saturday vowed to take stern action against those involved in the heinous attack on the student-people in Gazipur.
鈥楴one involved in the attack on the students and people will be spared. We are taking legal action against them. All responsible for the attack will be brought to justice,鈥� he said after visiting the injured at DMCH earlier on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile in the evening, Mobassher Hossain, a member of the Student Aginst Discrimination, was wounded as he was shot in front of the Gazipur deputy commissioner鈥檚 office. He was admitted to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital, said Gazipur superintendent of police Chowdhury Jaber Sadek.聽
On the day, the Student Aginst Discrimination and Jatiya Nagorik Committee staged protest rallies, processions and road blockade the whole day at least in Gazipur and Chattogram, demanding overnight arrest of the attackers, 抖阴精品 correspondents in those districts reported.
Activists under the banner of Jatiya Nagorik Committee held a protest rally in the Bhawal Rajbari ground in front of the Gazipur deputy commissioner office at about 11:00am.
Later, they brought out a procession marching across the city鈥檚 rail crossing and returned to the DC office and blocked road in front of the DC office at about 1:00pm.
Jatiya Nagorik Committee chief organiser Sarjis Alam and Student Against Discrimination convener Hasnat Abdullah joined the rally at about 2:30pm.
Addressing the rally, Sarjis Alam warned that they would stand against the government if the home adviser and police failed to arrest the attackers.
鈥榃e want to say clearly that the criminals involved in the attack must be arrested overnight. If any goons of Awami League, Chhatra League or Juba League threaten my brothers, their place will be in prison the next day,鈥� Sarjis said.
In the afternoon, Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner Mohamamd Nazrmul Karim visited the protest venue and apologised to the students while announcing to withdraw the Gazipur Sadar police officer-in-charge for his delay in reaching the spot.聽
鈥業 heard that the OC鈥檚 response was two-hour late. I tell you that those who have conspired with the fascists would not be allowed to continue their job with the police,鈥� the police commissioner said, adding that they had detained 16 individuals over the Friday night attack.
The protesting students withdrew the blockade at about 5:00pm after getting assurance from the police commissioner.
Students Against Discrimination convener Hasnat Abdullah said that they were calling off the blockade as the commissioner assured them of arresting the attackers.聽
In Chattogram, students under the banner of Student Against Discrimination brought out a procession and held a rally, demanding immediate arrest of the attackers.
A spate of attacks was carried out on the house of Awami League leaders, party offices, and murals and portraits of the country鈥檚 founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his daughter deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina since Wednesday evening when the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum building at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka city was razed to the ground.
The chaotic situation began when different groups on their social media platforms called on people to join the 鈥楤ulldozer procession鈥� to demolish the Dhanmondi 32 building as Sheikh Hasina, now sheltered in India, was scheduled to address the country鈥檚 student community online on late Wednesday evening.