AL arrested over attack on Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Ctg

A Chattogram court has ordered the arrest of Awami League leader Fakhrul Anwar in connection with a case filed over an attack on students during an anti-discrimination protest in the city.

The incident, which took place on August 4, involved armed assailants targeting demonstrators in the New Market area under Kotwali Police Station.  

Fakhrul Anwar, the 10th accused in the case, was shown arrested on Sunday following a court order issued by Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Bakar Siddique. Police have sought a 10-day remand for interrogation, though the hearing on the remand request has been postponed for a later date.  

The case was filed by Tafhimul Islam, a 26-year-old fourth-year student of the Islamic Studies department at Chittagong University. He accused the attackers of using firearms, cocktails, kiris (machetes), hockey sticks, and other weapons to assault students and bystanders during the protest.  

Kotwali Police Station Inspector Md Robel Afrad confirmed Fakhrul Anwar's arrest, stating that the Awami League leader was implicated in the violence that disrupted the anti-discrimination student movement. "We have applied for a 10-day remand to interrogate him further," Afrad said.  

The case, initially filed on September 23, names 735 individuals, including high-profile figures such as former Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and former minister Obaidul Quader. Additionally, 1,200 unidentified individuals have been charged in connection with the attack.  

This is not the first case related to the incident. Earlier, a separate case was filed with Kotwali Police Station on April 16, 2024, and another with Fatikchhari Police Station on April 25, 2007, highlighting the gravity of the allegations and the ongoing legal proceedings.  

The anti-discrimination student movement, which began in August, has drawn widespread attention for its demands for equality and justice. The violent crackdown on protesters has sparked outrage among students, civil society, and human rights organizations, who have called for accountability and an end to political violence.  

As the legal process unfolds, the arrest of Fakhrul Anwar marks a significant development in the case. However, the delay in the remand hearing raises questions about the pace of justice and the broader implications for political accountability in Bangladesh.  

The incident has further intensified the debate over the role of political leaders in maintaining peace and order, with many urging the government to ensure that such attacks on peaceful protests are not repeated.

AH