Patiya OC removed amid protests from NCP, SAD
OC Abu Zayed Md Nazmun Noor has been withdrawn from his post and attached to the Chattogram Range deputy inspector general (DIG) office
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chattogram's Patiya Police Station has been removed following a day-long protest by Students Against Discrimination (SAD) and the National Citizen Party (NCP) activists yesterday (2 July).
Confirming the removal to The Business Standard around 10:30pm, Chattogram District Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam said, "OC Abu Zayed Md Nazmun Noor has been withdrawn from his post and attached to the Chattogram Range deputy inspector general [DIG] office."
On Tuesday night, about 15-20 people, including four police personnel and student activists, were injured in front of Patiya Police Station around 9:30pm, when student activists reportedly detained a local Chhatra League leader near the Central Shaheed Minar in Patiya and took him to the police station.
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Police refused to arrest the individual, citing the absence of any case against him, which led to an altercation that escalated into violence.
Later, police were forced to take the Chhatra League leader into custody.
Another clash broke out around 11:30pm the same night when several others were also injured.
Speaking to TBS at noon yesterday, Patiya Police Station OC Abu Jahed Md Nazmun Noor said, "A group attacked the police station with a procession last night and damaged window glasses. At the time, there were 7-8 accused persons in custody. We took measures to ensure everyone's safety."
Yesterday morning, protestors, mostly supporters of SAD and NCP, began their sit-in in front of the main gate of the police station around 10am, protesting what they alleged were two attacks by police on their activists.
A faction of the demonstrators also blocked the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway near the station at around 10:40am, leading to significant traffic congestion on both sides of the road.
After nearly nine hours of blockades, protesters lifted the roadblocks following DIG's assurances of justice for those injured in clashes in Patiya Tuesday night.
