Nur regains consciousness after baton charge

He remains under treatment in the intensive care unit, according to a post on his Facebook page

Nurul Haque Nur, chief of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, has regained consciousness after suffering injuries during a baton charge by joint forces.

At 7am on Saturday, a post on Nur’s official Facebook page read: “Since last night’s attack, Nurul Haque Nur has been under treatment in the ICU. He has now regained consciousness.”

The incident took place on Friday evening in Dhaka's Kakrail during a protest march led by the Gono Odhikar Parishad. The demonstration was reportedly organised to demand a ban on the political activities of both the Awami League and the Jatiya Party.

As the procession passed the Jatiya Party’s central office, violence erupted. Stones were allegedly thrown from both sides, prompting a baton charge by law enforcers that injured Nur and many others.

According to Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan and central leader Abu Hanif, more than a hundred activists, including Nur, were injured.

Nur suffered serious injuries to his nose, and was initially treated at Islami Bank Hospital in Kakrail before being transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s ICU.

ACCUSATIONS AND RESPONSES

Gono Odhikar alleges that their peaceful demonstration was attacked from behind by Jatiya Party supporters, prompting law enforcement to intervene forcibly.

In contrast, Jatiya Party leaders claim Gono Odhikar activists assaulted their supporters while marching past their office. Videos circulated widely showing police and Army personnel using batons to beat Gono Odhikar leaders during their planned press briefing.

Nur, a former DUCSU vice president, has been a vocal critic of both the Awami League and Jatiya Party. He has previously been arrested, allegedly for political reasons, and alleged to have been tortured during detention under the Sheikh Hasina regime.

The attack on Nur and his party has been condemned by various political groups, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party (NCP).

NCP leader Sarjis Alam demanded that the Army chief explain who authorised the attack, saying: “The Army never takes a single step without orders.” He added that the Gono Odhikar Parishad was a legitimate registered party and accused security forces of shielding Jatiya Party.

Md Faruk, chief of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said that upon the arrival of government advisor Asif Nazrul at Nur’s bedside, tensions flared.

Advisor Nazrul had to leave discreetly through a side exit amid the agitation surrounding his visit.

Meanwhile, Gono Odhikar activists and student supporters staged protests at Dhaka University and Chattogram on Friday night, and more demonstrations have been announced for Saturday.