Protest over Mushtaq’s death: Student bodies reject DSA
They demand the abolishing of the Digital Security Act
Bangladesh Chhatra Front, Bangladesh Students Right Protection Council and Chhatra Federation on Saturday staged demonstrations and held a sit-in programme in the capital protesting the custodial death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed and urged to abolish the Digital Security Act.
Activists of Bangladesh Chhatra Front held a rally from Dhaka University's TSC to Shahbag and took up positions at the intersection.
Later, they moved back to TSC shouting slogans for removing the Digital Security Act. Bangladesh Chhatra Front President Al Kaderi Joy also condemned the attack on students during protests.
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Earlier, Chhatra Federation members had started a similar rally from TSC to Shahbag demanding a swift inquiry into his death.
They also demanded the abolishing of the Digital Security Act.
However, the rally was stopped for a while in front of Shahbag Police Station.
Later, they came to TSC again shortly after taking positions in Shahbag intersection.
Their protests continued in front of Raju Sculpture.
Speaking at the rally, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation Central President Golam Mostafa said the government is attempting to silence everyone's voice.
At least 35 people were injured as the activists of left-leaning organisations and student bodies clashed with cops during a protest at Dhaka University area on Friday evening over the death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed at the Kashimpur Central Jail.
Twenty of the injured people are protesters and 15 were policemen. Later, police reportedly arrested seven protesters from the spot.
The organisations brought out a torchlight procession in the area around 7pm. Police obstructed them and detained some of the protesters from the spot, leading to a clash.
At one stage, police baton-charged the protesters and fired tear gas shells there, forcing the protesters to take shelter in front of the central mosque of Dhaka University.
According to Shahbagh Police Station sources, some four protesters were arrested from the spot, though the protesters claimed the number of arrestees to be seven.
Meanwhile, members of Bangladesh Students Right Protection Council hosted a sit-in programme protesting Mustaq's death.
They also urged the authorities to put an end to the Digital Security Act.
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore and writer Mushtaq Ahmed from Kakrail and Lalmatia on 5 May under the Digital Security Act for posting anti-government posts on Facebook.
The case statement read that the accused published various posts conveying misinformation and rumours on the Facebook page called 'I am Bangladeshi' to tarnish the image or reputation of the state or to spread confusion. Which creates confusion among the people and degrades the law and order situation in the country.
Although two people were released on bail in that case, the bail applications of Mushtaq and Kishore were rejected six times.
According to the prison authorities, Mushtaq fell sick inside the highly secured prison at 7:10pm on Thursday. At first, he was taken to the jail hospital. Later he was sent to Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital where the on-duty doctor declared him dead at around 8:20pm.
