5 AL leaders, activists arrested for attacking students during movement in Pallabi

Police arrested five leaders and activists of Awami League and its wing organisation from Mirpur areas in the capital conducting separate operations yesterday night (13 December) in connection with the attack on the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in the city's Pallabi areas.

The arrestees were identified as Pallabi thana Jubo League unit Joint Convener Md Mamun, 35, Pallabi thana Ward no 6 Jubo League unit leader Md Saju, 34, Pallabi thana Ward no 5 Awami League unit Relief and Rehabilitation Affairs Secretary Md Saikat Islam, 19 and its activists-- Md Bachchu Bepari, 60 and Raju, 52.

Sources at the Pallabi Police Station said leaders and activists of various Awami League organizations opened fire indiscriminately on students and the public during the movement in front of Abul Taleb School of Mirpur-10 under Pallabi police station on the afternoon of 19 July this year.

Akram Khan Rabbi was seriously injured during the gunfire while he was crossing the road. Local people rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the doctor on duty declared him dead. Farukh Khan, the father of Akram filed a murder case with Pallabi Police Station on 25 August in connection with the incident.

Pallabi police started an investigation into the Akram Khan murder case. After scrutinising CCTV footage, a team of Pallabi Thana police conducted raids in Mirpur-11 area at around 11pm on Friday and arrested Md Mamun and Md Saju for being involved in the murder case.

Deputy Commissioner (DC-Media) of the DMP Talebur Rahman said in another incident Md. Abid joined the movement with the students and the general people demanding the one-point demand of the fall of the government in front of the Mirpur-10 Popular-2 Diagnostic Center under Pallabi Police Station on 4 August.

During this time, leaders and activists of Awami League and its affiliate wings resorted to attacks on the movement with local weapons and pistols. During the attack,  Abid was seriously injured by a bullet in his right eye. Later, he was taken to the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital for treatment. Abid's brother Jinnat Sayedee filed a case with Pallabi Police Station on 12 November.

After investigation of the case as well as scrutinizing CCTV footage, another team of Pallabi thana police conducted a raid at Adarshanagar area at around 10:00 pm and arrested Shaikat, Bachchhu and Raju.