Vehicular movement on the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway resumed after nearly six hours on Tuesday night as students under the anti-discrimination movement withdrew their blockade after issuing a 12 hour ultimatum for the removal of three police officials including Chittagong police super and the officer-in-charge of Patiya police station.
Earlier the students along with the leaders and activists of National Citizen Party (NCP) blocked the key route, demanding the removal of the officer-in-charge of Patiya police station.
The protesters also laid a siege to Patiya police station, protesting Tuesday’s alleged attacks on them.
Later, they also staged demonstration in front of the office of deputy inspector general of police (DIG), Chittagong range in Khulshi area of the city in the afternoon demanding withdrawal of three police officials- Chittagong SP Saiful Islam Shantu and Patiya OC Zayed Nur, second officer Asad, within 12 hours.
According to a press release from the organization, a group of students gathered in front of the police station around 10:45pm on Tuesday as part of their scheduled program to light candles, marking the first anniversary of the July-August mass uprising.
At one point, they began pressing police to arrest Dipankar, a leader of the banned Chhatra League faction in Rangamati district.
When police reportedly declined to take action, the students staged a demonstration in front of the police station.
Later, police charged batons on the protesters, triggering a clash that left 23 students injured.
Among the injured, Ashraful Islam Toukir, 21, and Saiful Islam, 17, were taken to Patiya upazila health complex. The rest received first aid.
Meanwhile, Patiya OC Abu Zahid Md Nazmun Noor said the students brought a leader of the banned Chhatra League to the station and created a mob situation, during which they allegedly assaulted him.
“A scuffle took place with police, leaving 3–4 personnel injured,” he claimed.
In protest against the incident, students blocked the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway, reiterating their demand for the OC’s removal.
On information, a team of Bangladesh Army rushed to the spot and requested the protesters to withdraw the blockade.
Upon request, the students issued an ultimatum demanding removal of the three policemen within 12 hours and left the road.
Security has been beefed up in Khulshi area following the protest.
Riad, a coordinator of Chittagong metropolitan unit NCP, said that police attacked peaceful demonstrators instead of taking action against a leader of banned BCL.”
