Violent clashes broke out between students and members of the Ansar force near the Secretariat in Dhaka on Sunday night, leading to multiple injuries on both sides, according to reports from the Dhaka Tribune. The confrontation, which escalated after 9 PM, saw both groups engaged in a series of chases, prompting police intervention to restore order.
The unrest began when students from various dormitories at Dhaka University gathered at the Raju Memorial Sculpture, planning to march to the Secretariat. Their objective was to confront the Ansar members, whom they accused of being “agents of autocracy.” The tension was a response to reports that a group of Ansar members had detained Nahid Islam, an adviser in the interim government and coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination movement, along with coordinators Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah, and others, at the Secretariat.
In a Facebook post, Student Protest Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah pointed fingers at former Ansar director general Maj Gen AKM Aminul Haque, accusing him of maintaining a blockade of the Secretariat even after the protesting Ansar members’ demands had been met.
“Everyone, come to Raju. The autocratic forces are trying to make a comeback through the Ansar force. Even after their demands were met, we were kept locked in the Secretariat,” Hasnat wrote.
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Maj Gen AKM Aminul Haque is the elder brother of former Deputy Minister of Water Resources, AKM Enamul Haque Shamim.
The protests by Ansar members, which had been ongoing for two days, centered around their demand for the nationalization of their jobs. The situation had appeared to deescalate earlier in the day when the protesters called off their demonstration after receiving assurances from Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the interim government’s adviser for home affairs.
However, the tensions flared again in the evening, leading to the violent clashes that saw police stepping in to prevent further escalation. The situation remains tense, and authorities are working to bring the situation under control.
As the situation develops, the focus remains on preventing further violence and addressing the underlying grievances that have led to this unrest in the heart of Bangladesh’s capital.
