Chhatra Union calls strike for Tuesday over brutal police assault

Bangladesh Chhatra Union has called strike in all schools, colleges and universities for Tuesday in protest against brutal police assault on a group of demonstrators.

Police on Sunday clubbed, teargassed, blasted by water cannon and physically abused even women demonstrators marching towards the Dhaka Metropolitan Police headquarters.
 
They were demanding arrest and punishment of those responsible for sexual harassment of women on Dhaka University campus during Bengali New Year celebrations.
 
The organisation said police injured at least 34 of its members in the attack. Five others were arrested.
 
Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal and Bangladesh Chhatra Maitree condemned the attack by police.
 
They alleged that police have sided with the harassers by attacking the demonstrators instead of arresting the molesters.
 
They demanded action against the police officials responsible for the attack.
 
Chhatra Union organised a press conference at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen after their march was foiled.
 
“Police attacked us brutally following order from the DMP commissioner,” the organisation’s
President Hasan Tarek said.
 
“The attack made it clear that police and the Dhaka University administration have sided with the sexual harassers,” he added.
 
Apart from the strike, the organisation announced a rally at Dhaka University’s Raju Sculpture and demonstration across the country at 4pm on Monday.
 
Over a hundred leaders and activists of the organisation marched towards the DMP headquarters at Minto Road from Dhaka University’s TSC.

They defied barricades set on several places on the way and reached the DMP commissioner’s office at Ramna around 12:45pm.

They entered into a scuffle with the law enforcers who blocked.

At one stage, police attacked the demonstrators.

At least 10 of the injured were hospitalised.

Ramna Police Station Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman said five adherents of the organisation were arrested.

They are Jahangirnagar University unit General Secretary Dipanjan Sidhanta Kajol and activist Ariful Islam Anik, Dhaka metropolitan unit Organising Secretary Anik Roy and activists Antu Chandra Nath and Saddam Hossain Joy.

Rahman said they were arrested on charges of obstruction to police duty and beating law enforcers.

No case was filed against them until 8pm. Rahman said steps will be taken against them following decision by top officials.

Ramna Police Station OC Mashiur Rahman claimed six of his colleagues were injured by brickbats hurled by the demonstrators.

They are SI ‘Kamrul’, Nayeks ‘Jahid’, ‘Shahin’, Kazi Arif, Ali Hossain and ‘Arafat’.