Tension gripped Shahbagh police station on Thursday evening following a clash between activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) leaders over a Facebook post.
Two DUCSU leaders elected from the panel backed by Islami Chhatra Shibir, were briefly left in a vulnerable situation before being escorted to safety by senior JCD leaders.
The incident involved DUCSU Literature and Cultural Affairs Secretary Musaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad and Social Welfare Secretary Zubayer bin Nesari (A B Zubair).
Tension gripped Shahbagh police station following a clash between activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) leaders, on Thursday, 23 April. Photo: Md. Rakibul Hasan/UNB
According to witnesses and police sources, JCD leaders and activists went to Shahbagh Police Station to file a case against Dhaka University student Abdullah Al Mahmud, alleging his affiliation with Islami Chhatra Shibir and accusing him of posting “derogatory” content about PM Tarique Rahman and his daughter Zaima Rahman on Facebook. JCD had earlier announced plans to file a case over the issue.
At the same time, Abdullah Al Mahmud also arrived at the police station to submit a general diary (GD), citing security concerns. He was accompanied by DUCSU leaders A B Zubair, Musaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad and Fatima Tasnim Zuma.
Tension escalated shortly after, triggering an altercation between DUCSU leaders and JCD activists. Witnesses said around 20–30 JCD activists allegedly attacked Musaddiq and Zubair separately during the confrontation.
JCD leaders, however, claimed that Musaddiq had attempted to attack a joint secretary of the Dhaka University unit of Chhatra Dal, which led to the escalation.
Witnesses further said that a group of JCD activists inside the police station chanted slogans for about 20 minutes, demanding that the DUCSU leaders be brought out and assaulted.
Later, senior JCD leaders and police personnel intervened and escorted Musaddiq and Zubair to safety through a rear exit of the police station, defusing the situation.
At least ten people, including journalists, were injured in the clash and were taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 9:45pm.
The injured include Zubair, 22, who sustained minor head injuries, and Mosaddek, 23, who also suffered minor head injuries.
The injured journalists include Manjur Hossain Mahi (Kaler Kantho), Khalid Hasan (Desh Rupantor), Liton Islam (Agamir Somoy), Samsuddoza Nabab (Dhaka Tribune), Mohammad Iftekhar Hossain Sifat (Dhaka Mail), Harun Islam (Naya Diganta), Asaduzzaman Khan (Manab Zamin) and Niemur Rahman Emon (Daily Observer). All of them are students of Dhaka University.
Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said the injured are currently receiving treatment at Ward No. 4 of the emergency department.
