The incident took place on Tuesday (January 21) at around 4:30 pm. Seven students, including a woman, were injured. Later in the evening, a press release signed by the office secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement gave details of the incident.
The release stated, “This afternoon, some misguided individuals came to the central office of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement located at Bangla Motor and started shouting objectionable slogans. At one point, they forcibly closed the gate of the office, which created panic among the workers assigned to maintain the office. To bring the situation under control, central executive committee members Rifat Rashid, Ahnaf Saeed Khan, Naeem Abedin and Asad Bin Roni arrived at the scene and wanted to hear their demands. But instead of cooperating, they attacked the executive members. Executive member Naeem Abedin was injured in this. Later, when other leaders and activists arrived at the central office, the people who created the heated situation were forced to leave the office.”
The notice further states, “The promotion of amity and harmony instead of violence is the basic principle of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The organization believes that any organizational problem can be resolved through discussion and compromise. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement will not show any sympathy to those who choose violence instead of discussion. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement is known as the leading platform of the July Mass Uprising. Therefore, the expectations of the freedom-loving students and masses across the country are very high for the organization. We are responsible for the students and masses and are always aware of their feelings. In addition, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement is committed to forming a new political structure after the mass uprising. In this structure, solidarity and harmony will prevail instead of violence.”
The notice further states, “Although some of those responsible for today’s undesirable events participated in the mass uprising, none of them are organizational members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. An internal investigation committee has already been formed comprising the responsible leaders of Dhaka Metropolitan City and the executive members present at the central office during the incident. Legal action will be taken against those involved after the investigation.”
Earlier in the afternoon, Hasnat Abdullah, the convener of the organization, said in front of the central office of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, “I have just come here after receiving the news. I will be able to give accurate information only after knowing the details of the incident.”
Meanwhile, seven people injured in the fight that took place at the central office have received treatment at the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College (DMCH).
The injured are Imran Sarkar (21) of East West University, Jannatul Mim (22) of Tejgaon College, Abrar (22), Alamin (25), Afsar Uddin (25), Kabi Nazrul College student Asif (24) and Demra Boro Madrasa student Masud (24).
The injured Alamin told reporters at DMCH Hospital, “A few days ago, a meeting of the coordinators of the Jatrabari zone was going on. “At that time, one of our comrades was attacked in the presence of the coordinators. Today, when we went to the central office to discuss the incident, we were attacked again. Several of our comrades were seriously injured.”
