12 sued over attacking police during anti-rape march

A case has been filed against 12 leaders and activists of left-leaning student organizations following clashes between police and protesters during an anti-rape march in Dhaka's Shahbag on Tuesday. 

The march, organized by the platform "Bangladesh Against Rape and Oppression," aimed to demand exemplary punishment for rapists and protest the rising incidents of rape and violence against women and children.

The case, lodged by the police at Ramna Police Station on Wednesday, accuses the activists of attacking law enforcement officers. Alongside the 12 named individuals, 70 to 80 unidentified persons have also been implicated in the case. 

Ramna Police Station officer-in-charge, Golam Faruk, confirmed the filing of the case and stated that efforts are underway to arrest the accused.

The 12 named accused include prominent student leaders such as Saikat Arif, General Secretary of Bangladesh Students Federation; Meghmallar Basu, President of Dhaka University unit of Bangladesh Students Union; and Fahim Ahmed Chowdhury, General Secretary of Democratic Students Council. Other accused include leaders from Socialist Students Front, Students Federation, and other left-leaning student organizations.

The protest march began at 3 PM on Tuesday from the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University and proceeded towards Chief Adviser’s residence. However, when the protesters reached Hotel Intercontinental intersection, police blocked their path, leading to a confrontation. 

According to the police version in the case statement, the protesters ignored repeated requests to disperse and instead attacked officers with sticks and stones, injuring several police personnel, including an Assistant Commissioner of Ramna Zone.

Protesters, however, claim that the police used excessive force to disperse the peaceful march. Videos circulating on social media show police officers beating protesters, while other clips depict protesters retaliating against the police. The platform "Bangladesh Against Rape and Oppression" condemned the police action, stating that their peaceful demonstration was met with unwarranted violence.

In a statement, the Police Headquarters addressed the incident, asserting that the protesters attempted to break through police barricades and attacked officers with bricks and sticks. They emphasized that the police acted to maintain public safety and ensure smooth traffic flow during the holy month of Ramadan. The statement also criticized media reports for allegedly distorting the facts and urged responsible journalism.