A protest march led by students demanding the arrest and trial of those involved in the recent attack on minority students was met with police resistance, resulting in clashes and injuries on Thursday afternoon.
The march, which began under the banner of “Aggrieved Students,” aimed to reach the Ministry of Home Affairs but was blocked in front of the School of Business building in Dhaka University.
Police resorted to baton charges to disperse the protesters after tensions escalated, leaving several students injured.
The protest started at TSC on the Dhaka University campus and proceeded peacefully until it was stopped near the department building.
Witnesses reported that after an initial standoff, police engaged with demonstrators near Curzon Hall, dispersing them with force.
The rally was in response to Wednesday's attack on minority students protesting in front of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).
Members of the minority community, under the banner of “Aggrieved Ethnic Students,” had gathered to demand the reinstatement of graffiti referencing “Adivasi” in textbooks.
However, they were confronted by activists from a group called “Students for Sovereignty,” who had been protesting earlier with their own set of demands, including the removal of said graffiti and punishment for those allegedly involved in fictional depictions of historical events in the curriculum.
A scuffle broke out during the protest, escalating into violence that left several, including women and journalists, injured.
Police intervened to separate the groups, but Thursday's demonstration was organized to protest Wednesday's attacks and demand justice for the injured.