Police assaulted students who were protesting yesterday's attack on an indigenous group

Police broke up a student protest march toward the Secretariat today using water cannons and stun grenades. 

The demonstration, organized under the banner "Aggrieved Student-Masses," was held in response to an attack on indigenous students the previous day.

The incident occurred in front of Shikkha Bhaban this afternoon, where police charged at the protesters with batons, leading to a chase and counter-chase.

The protesters had gathered around 11:30 a.m. at the Raju Memorial Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus. As they attempted to march toward the Secretariat, police set up barricades and blocked their path near Shikkha Bhaban. When the protesters tried to break through, police deployed water cannons and two stun grenades. After several minutes of skirmishes, the protesters retreated to the campus. 

Md Masud Alam, Deputy Commissioner of the Ramna Division, told reporters, “We have no issue with their demands. Our goal was not to beat them; we simply dispersed the crowd.”

He explained that police had suggested the protesters send a delegation to the Secretariat instead of marching, but they ignored the advice, forcing the police to intervene. 

Jayma Munmun, a student from Eden College and leader of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, said, “We were marching peacefully to protest yesterday’s attack and demand punishment for those responsible. But the police charged at us with batons, used water cannons and stun grenades, injuring six to seven of us. We strongly condemn this violence and will hold a protest rally at the Raju Sculpture in response."

The protests were sparked by a clash on Wednesday near the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) in Motijheel, Dhaka, over the inclusion of graffiti images featuring the term "Adivasi" in textbooks. 

Those who were attacked claim a group called Students for Sovereignty was behind the assault, though the group denies the allegation.