Patiya clash in Ctg: SAD, NCP protesters lift blockade after DIG assures justice for injured
Protests and blockades cause major traffic disruptions in Ctg
Highlights:
- SAD, NCP activists block road in front of Ctg DIG office, Patiya Police Station
- Clashes erupted in Patiya on 1 July night, injuring at least 15-20 people including police and activists
- Protesters demand removal Patiya Police Station OC and justice over the clashes
- Protests and blockades cause major traffic disruptions in Ctg
Protesters, mostly activists from the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) and the National Citizen Party (NCP), have lifted their blockade on the road in front of the Chattogram range deputy inspector general's (DIG) office, following assurance of justice for those injured in clashes in Patiya last night.
Around 3pm today (2 July), demonstrators gathered near the DIG office in the Khulshi area of the city and by 4pm, they began blocking the main road. In the morning, they had also laid siege to Patiya Police Station.
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The protesters demanded the removal of the officer in-charge (OC) of Patiya Police Station and justice over last nights clashes.
Around 6:45pm, the protesters cleared the roads in Khulshi and Patiya following an assurance from DIG Ahsan Habib Palash. He promised that action would be taken by 12pm tomorrow regarding the alleged "police attack" on students.
Chattogram Additional DIG Sanjay Sarkar said, "The DIG has heard the students' demands regarding the Patiya incident. A decision will be communicated by 12pm tomorrow."
Zubairul Hasan Arif, joint chief organiser of the NCP, said, "If our demands are not met, we will announce a blockade programme across all of Chattogram."
Earlier, in the afternoon, the protesters demanded dialogue with the DIG in the presence of the media and the public.
Irfanul Haque, a coordinator of NCP, said, "We waited at the gate to speak with the DIG, but they only wanted one of us to go inside. We insisted on a public discussion. Unless the DIG comes down and speaks to us directly, we will not vacate the road."
Chattogram Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (North) Amirul Islam said, "We invited a delegation of protesters to speak with the DIG, but they declined."
The road blockade caused significant inconvenience for the public. Tanjirool Islam Mashroor, a tenth-grade student of Ispahani School and College, said, "I got stuck on my way home after my exam. I live in West Khulshi, and I can't get back."
Last night (1 July), 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.
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 The Business Standard at noon today, 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."
This 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.
