Police disperse 'adibasi' students’ protest

FE Team | Published: January 16, 2025 22:34:07

A protest march of students, demanding the arrest and trial of those involved in the recent attack on minority students, trying to remove police barricades in front of the Shikhkha Bhaban in the capital in their bid to reach the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday. — FE Photo

Police have dispersed a protest march staged by students from the 'adibasi' community - a collective term for several ethnic minority groups in the country- near the Ministry of Home Affairs, reports bdnews24.com.
Several students and a policeman have been injured in the incident.
The law enforcers blocked the march with barricades in front of the Shikkha Bhaban at around 1:15pm on Thursday as the protesters were proceeding towards the Secretariat. When the protesters breached the barricades, police used water cannons and sound grenades in an attempt to stop them.
The protesters were not deterred and were proceeding towards the home ministry when police initiated a baton charge and dispersed the demonstration. A witness said a policeman was injured as sound grenades were being thrown.
Inspector Md Faruk, officer in charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital Police Outpost, said: "Seven people - six students and a pedestrian - have been injured in front of the Shikkha Bhaban. The six injured students are being treated at the emergency department. None of them are in critical condition."
The injured have been identified as Jagannath University student Evan Tahsib, 23, Dhaka University students Jahidul Islam Riad, 22, and Nabila Tasfia Tabassum, 22, Northern University student Maruk Hasan, 20, Dhaka College students Tayeb Islam, 24, student Pankaj Nath Surja, 30, and pedestrian Md babul, 48.
They were brought to DMCH with injuries around 2pm, according to Inspector Faruk.