A case has been filed with Shahbagh Police Station against quota protesters over obstructing police work and vandalism at Shahbagh in Dhaka. Constable Khalilur Rahman, the driver of the armoured police vehicle, filed the case on Friday.
The number of suspects in the case was not specified, said Shahbagh Police Station chief Mostazirur Rahman. The case documents allege that protesters climbed onto the vehicles and vandalised those, causing damages of Tk 500,000.
The protesters gathered in front of the Dhaka University Central Library at 4:00pm on Thursday and brought out a protest march. The procession marched through various roads on the campus before arriving at Shahbagh around 5:00pm.
When some protesters attempted to march towards Bangla Motor, the police stopped them. Eventually, they took up positions at Shahbagh.
The police subsequently moved towards the Hotel Intercontinental, but one of their armoured vehicles got stuck amid the students. Students protested by climbing onto the vehicle.
The case alleges that two SS stands, the radio antenna, mudguards, water cannon and rare-looking mirror of the armoured vehicle were damaged. It added that senior police officers had tried to calm the students, but they only grew angrier.
Water bottles, table tennis balls and brick chips were thrown at the police. Some policemen were hurt.
Detective Branch (DB) chief Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mohammad Harun-Or-Rashid has said that a probe was underway to find out if any infiltrator had entered the agitating students of the quota movement. He was speaking to journalists at his office on Mintoo Road on Saturday afternoon.
"The Supreme Court has issued a four-week status quo on the High Court judgement in this regard. Everyone should respect it. The ones that disagree can appeal against the decision," he said.
The protesters are blocking roads, disrupting movement of people, and vandalising vehicles in some areas instead of returning to classes. A case has been filed against unnamed protesters, he mentioned.
"If anyone thinks that they can disregard the court and police, what would we do? We would take appropriate action to maintain law and order," the DMP DB Chief added.
Asked whether intruders are trying to divert the movement, he said the ones that are blocking roads and vandalising vehicles without waiting for the courts order are intruders.
Urging students to return to their academic activities and wait for the courts decision, the DB Chief said, "We will take action if they continue to block roads and damage properties."
Harun-Or-Rashid said quota is in effect in many countries, not just Bangladesh. Certain persons and certain students are demonstrating on the streets against the quota. In the meantime, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has issued a stay on the High Court ruling regarding the quota system in public service. The Supreme Court is everyones refuge. Everyone should follow the court orders.
But for some days now the students have been abstaining from classes and observing sit-ins on various roads, obstructing movement of the general people. They are even attacking cars. A case has even been filed in this connection.
Harun-Or-Rashid said, "If anyone thinks they will not obey the court, they will not obey the police, then what have we got to do. Our law enforcement agencies will do whatever is in their power. If the agitaters are damaging property and harming people, they are blocking roads and obstructing normal movement of the people, then the law enforcing agencies will do whatever is necessary."
