Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia has directed the police to tackle the ongoing students’ protest in the city peacefully instead of applying any force.
He gave the directive to officers-in charge (OCs) of all police stations across the capital through a wireless message on Wednesday, a police official told UNB.
Requesting anonymity, an OC told UNB that they were asked to bring the situation under control by convincing the students about people’s sufferings because of their road blockades.
"We have been given directives to hold back the use of force while the students are on the streets," said the OC.
He also said they were directed to remain alert about their personal security during patrol.
The directive from the top brass came after police were seen assaulting and manhandling a number of minors in the past few days in a bid to stop the protests, leaving several students injured and some hospitalized.
The use of force by police on children drew harsh criticism from different quarters.
Students from different schools and colleges took to the streets for the fourth consecutive day demanding punishment of the bus driver responsible for Sunday's incident that killed two college students in the city.
They are also calling for the resignation of Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan for his comments on the accident. The minister, however, apologised later.
On Sunday, Diya Khanam Mim and Abdul Karim Rajib, students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin School and College, were killed when a Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan bus ploughed through some students in front of the Kurmitola General Hospital on the Airport Road.
Since then, students’ protest had spread across Dhaka and several other cities, causing immense public sufferings.
However, many of the commuters said they fully supported the students’ movement despite their suffering and shortage of transport.
