A demonstration called by a citizens’ platform in Dhaka has been foiled by the police on Tuesday.
Rights activist and former Jahangirnagar University teacher Rehnuma Ahmed and former leftist student leader Baki Billah were detained as the demonstrators were gathering in front of the national press club around 4pm. They were released later.
Dhaka University Journalism teacher Fahmidul Haque has been allegedly manhandled by police, when they were taking away Rehnuma and Baki Billah.
“We had gathered to protest the attack on students and the police have barred us from demonstrating. I was assaulted and dragged by the police,” Fahmidul.
Ganashanghati Andolon Coordinator Zonayed Saki, who was among the demonstrators, condemned the police actions and said, “Police have failed to provide with any explanation over the move to stop us from demonstrating.”
Police, however, said the demonstration was foiled due to lack of a ‘formal clearance’.
“We allow demonstration. But this one was called by the inciting in the social media. They did not gather under a specific platform,” said Deputy Commissioner Maruf Hossain Sardar of the Dhaka metro police’s Ramna Division.