Police Baton Charge on ‘Agitated Student Mass’ Protest, 7 Injured

Staff Reporter

Seven individuals, including six students, were injured during a police baton charge on a protest march by ‘Agitated Student Mass’ in the High Court area of Dhaka on Thursday, January 16.

The injured included Tasmia Tabassum Nebula (22), a third-year Law student at Dhaka University; Zahidul Islam Riad (22), a first-year Bangla student at Northern University; Maruf Hossain (20), a first-year student in Bengali at Northern University; Tayeb 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 Mohammad Babul (48), a passerby.

The injured were treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Ivan Tahsib, one of the injured students, explained that they were protesting the attack on indigenous students near the NCTB office the previous day. They were marching under the banner of ‘Agitated Student Mass’ from the Rajshahi University sculpture to the Secretariat, heading towards the Ministry of Home Affairs. When they reached the High Court area, they faced police resistance.

As they attempted to move past the barriers, police used baton charges and water cannons, leading to their injuries, said Tahsib.

According to Md. Faruk, in charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical Hospital, seven people came to the emergency department with injuries. They are receiving treatment, and their condition is not serious.