Students issue 24-hr ultimatum to arrest those involved in Gazipur attack
Last night, at least 15 people were left injured among a group of agitators attempting to vandalise AL leader and former minister AKM Mozammel Haque's home in Gazipur
Highlights:
- Students issue 24-hour ultimatum for arrests in Gazipur attack
- Rally demands justice, AL registration cancellation, and trial
- Alleges police inaction despite repeated calls
- Says it was army who rescued students hours later
- Students claim 50 injured, demand immediate arrests for justice.
Leaders of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement have issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the arrest of those involved in last night's (7 February) attack on students.
They made the announcement during a protest rally in Gazipur city today (8 February) demanding justice for the attack.
During the rally, the platform's leaders also demanded the cancellation of Awami League's registration as a political party, the trial of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates, the arrest and trial of those involved in last night's attack, action against the AL cohorts lurking in the advisory council and administration, and confiscation of the property of AL leaders and corrupt individuals.
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Earlier in the morning, activists of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement took out separate processions from different areas of Gazipur and gathered at the Rajbari grounds, where central and Gazipur leaders of the student body delivered speeches.
Speakers at the rally alleged that police did not respond to them last night despite repeated calls to rescue the students during the incident. Army personnel arrived on the spot hours later, rescued the students and admitted them to the hospital.
Saying the home affairs adviser was also responsible for allowing this attack on students to happen, they demanded the removal of top officials of Gazipur Metropolitan Police.
Speaking at the rally, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, said, "There is no such thing as a former Awami League leader; they are mass murderers. No need to say former Liberation War minister; Mozammel is a mass murderer. Why refer to him as a former minister in the media? Why so many adjectives about a mass murderer? We must stop patronising the friends of fascism."
Sarjis Alam, one of the central coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, said, "The students liberated Bangladesh in exchange for blood and life. Their lives must be protected. We can see that the goons of murderer Hasina's Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League are still roaming in Gazipur. They are still threatening our fighters on social media."
Arif Sohel, the central member secretary of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, said, "We must remain united. Even though the fascist Hasina has fled, her cohorts are still around us."
He claimed that there was an attack on their members even during the rally. He demanded the arrest of all attackers within the next 24 hours.
Claiming that many in the administration are not loyal to the revolution, he said, "We must handle the situation with restraint. Under no circumstances can disorder be created."
After the rally, a protest procession started from Rajbari ground and circled the city's main roads. A large number of students participated in it.
The Student Movement organised the protest rally following what it said were attacks on students by followers of AL leaders AKM Mozammel Haque, the former liberation war affairs minister, and Jahangir Alam, the former Gazipur mayor.
On his Facebook page, Jatiya Nagorik Committee Chief Organiser and Student Movement leader Sarjis Alam also wrote, "Today [8 February] will be the last day of Awami League goons in Gazipur. We are coming."
Although this programme was mainly observed at the call of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, leaders and activists of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, Islami Chhatrashibir, and other organisations joined the protest rally.
During another rally this morning, the Nagorik Committee demanded the cancellation of AL's registration as a political party and the seizure of properties owned by the party's corrupt leaders.
Leaders of the platform also demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in the attack.
Central Coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, visited injured students at Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital during the early hours today.
What happened last night
At least 15 people were left injured among a group of agitators attempting to vandalise Mozammel Haque's home in Gazipur last night after their bid was thwarted.
Arifur Rahman, the officer-in-charge of Gazipur Sadar Police Station said they went to the spot upon receiving information and admitted 15 people into Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital after rescuing them during the attack at the house of former minister Mozammel.
He said they did not find anyone to ask about the incident, so they immediately could not say what happened there. Later, police and army members brought the situation under control, he added.
Locals and police said at around 9pm, a group attacked Mozammel's Dhirashram house, entering and vandalising it.
According to media reports, the local mosque reportedly announced that the house was being robbed and urged locals to come forward.
Many heard the announcement and surrounded the house. They also managed to capture some of the agitators. Some video footage on social media showed some people being beaten.
Asked about the matter, Anti-discrimination Student Movement's Gazipur unit Joint Convener Nabiul Ahmed said, "We received information around 8:30pm that the minister's house had been attacked and some students had been confined there. As we received a call to save them, some students went to the spot where they were beaten up."
"Sensing that the students were trapped, we informed the police numerous times, but they went to the spot after two hours. The attackers were members of the Awami League and their allied organisations.
"At least 50 have been injured, among whom some 10-12 students have been sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition. We want justice for the attack and immediate arrest of the attackers," Nabiul added.
Sheikh Forhad, a resident doctor at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, confirmed receiving 15 injured people by 11pm last night, saying, "Those who came to the hospital had injury marks on their bodies. They are being treated at the emergency unit. We heard they were injured in an attack somewhere."
