Differently abled job seekers, on Sunday, claimed that law enforcement officials had attacked them, and harassed female protesters during a sit-in strike staged at the Shahbagh intersection.
Earlier, from 10am to 2pm, differently abled job seekers had blocked Shahbag upto New Elephant Road and roads leading to the Dhaka University campus, demanding special consideration for government jobs following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s declaration of abolishing quota.
One of the demonstrators, Ali Hossain, alleged that police had attacked the protestors in front of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of the Ramna zone.
“The police snatched our megaphone and ripped up our banner. They also harassed female protesters and beat up the male protesters,” Ali added.
He further informed that, later on Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) VP, Nurul Haque Nur urged them to stop the protest, and helped them submit a memorandum to the prime minister’s office.
Sadia Afrin Trishna, a student of Islamic History and Culture Department at Dhaka University (DU), alleged that she was slapped by a male police officer.
She said: “No female police officer were present during the attack. A policeman slapped me. I want justice. How can a male police officer slap a female student?”
While speaking to Ducsu VP Nur, a law enforcement official denied all allegations.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shahbag Police Station, Abul Hossain could not be reached for comments.
