Students of Barisal University (BU) yesterday demanded the removal of Kotwali police station’s officer-in-charge, protesting ‘police attacks’ on them.
They also threatened to carry out indefinite agitation unless Shakhawt Hossain was removed from his post.
The students voiced their demand at a human chain held on the temporary campus a day after 14 students and a teacher were injured by police action.
Jahirul Islam, Shamim Shikdar of the economics department, Firojul Islam Nayon of management, Uzzal Roy of sociology, Sharmin Akter of law, among others, spoke at the human chain.
The police action allegedly occurred after a student was assaulted by a transport worker after being prevented from getting off a bus in front of the university gate at Karnakathi, east of the Kirtankhola River.
Immediate after the assault, students blocked Barisal-Patuakhali highway near the campus at Karnakathi. Kotwali police were called in to disperse them and resorted to violence, leaving 17 people injured, of whom two were police officers.
Police baton-charged them, fired gunshots and threw teargas canisters at them, injuring at least 14 students and a teacher, according to statements. They also allegedly shouted obscenities at the teachers and students and even assaulted a university official at the hospital..
The agitators also demanded the immediate construction of speed breakers, passenger sheds, and punishment of the transport worker who assaulted a student on Thursday.
Deputy Commissioner (north)Abu Raihan Md Saleh said the police action was an immediate necessity, saying this road connects to at least nine long routes linking five out of six districts in Barisal division.