Also ReadPolice have claimed the law enforcement agency’s top priority was saving assets worth crores of taka during the series of clashes between the traders of the New Market area and the students of Dhaka College and that was why they were trying to repulse the college students.
“We have been successful in keeping the market unscathed,” Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Assistant Commissioner (New Market zone) Sharif Mohammad Farukuzzaman told Dhaka Tribune on Monday.
Police had assumed that if the trouble went on any further, people might loot or vandalize the shops, causing a huge loss to business ahead of Eid-Ul-Fitr. “We didn’t want even a single incident of disorder which would go against protecting the assets of that area,” said the assistant commissioner.
Following the clashes, the students of Dhaka College had complained that the police were biased toward the businessmen of New Market and said that they did not fire a single round of tear gas at the traders and their employees.
Dhaka College authorities also told reporters that they had requested the law enforcers not to take the side of the traders but rather try to stop both parties from causing a worsening of the situation.
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Speaking to journalists, Dhaka College acting principal Prof ATM Mainul Hossain said that the action of the police had been excessive during the clashes on the night of April 19.
Regarding the arrest of BNP leader Moqbul Hossain, the police official said he was arrested solely for his ownership of the two fast food shops where the incident was initiated; no political motivation had led to the arrest.
Moqbul was arrested on Friday afternoon in a case filed with New Market Police and is now on a three-day remand. According to Farukuzzaman, Mokbul had been cooperating with the police investigation and so an extension of remand might not be necessary.
The Detective Branch (DB) of police is investigating the two murder cases of Nahid Miah and Md Mursalin, who lost their lives during the clashes.
“The priority now of both the DB and police is to locate and arrest the murderers. Those who were involved in the violence and vandalism are a second priority,” said the assistant commissioner.
The three employees of Welcome Fast Food and Capital Fast Food are still at large. “They were the ones who started the brawl,” he said.
Police teams were sent to their homes in Barisal and Bhola but the suspects were not found there.
The police have taken a strategic position regarding the entire issue because of the sensitivity and timing involved in it. “We do not want to take any immediate action against any party that could create a hindrance to the Eid market.”
They will not also conduct any raid on the Dhaka College campus before Eid, he said.
