FROM PAGE 12

The Ducsu leaders were then escorted out safely through the police station’s north-side pocket gate next to Shahbagh Thana Jaame Mosque a little after 9:00pm. They were then taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.

After that, Ducsu Vice President Abu Shadik Kayem led Ducsu and Shibir activists to the front of Shahbagh police station. They came face‑to‑face with Chhatra Dal activists already present there. At one point, some Chhatra Dal activists hurled water bottles at the Ducsu and Shibir men, sparking brief tension at the scene.

DMP Ramna Division Assistant Commissioner Mazharul Islam said tension between Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir escalated into jostling and shoving, but no serious injuries were reported, adding that the situation was brought under control by 10:00pm.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib said the incident was deeply regrettable.

“We maintain communication with Chhatra Shibir and have addressed this social media issue several times, but it is ultimately creating a major division among us. They assured us that if any of their members were involved, they would take action.”

On the attack, Rakib said, “It was a sensitive matter for Chhatra Dal, as it centred on the daughter of our prime minister. Such an incident by Chhatra Dal is unexpected. We expressed regret and will take measures to ensure it does not recur.”

Ducsu VP Shadik Kayem, speaking to the media after returning from the scene, said the very police station meant to ensure citizens’ safety had failed to do so. “In front of the police, even in front of the officer‑in‑charge, those who went to file a general diary seeking protection for their lives were attacked.”

Kayem described the incident as “a shameful chapter in history”, alleging that outsiders were brought in alongside university activists.

“I want to ask the home minister and the prime minister -- is this democracy? A student is being threatened, and when he goes to a police station to file a GD for his safety, he is brutally attacked. Is this democracy? Is this the new Bangladesh?”

JOURNOS ASSAULTED

Amid tensions between the two sides, student journalists of Dhaka University also came under attack while trying to gather news and were later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.

At least 10 journalists, including the president of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association, were injured in the incident. The injured journalists alleged that Chhatra Dal activists attacked them even after identifying themselves as journalists.

Dhaka University Journalists’ Association President Manjurul Hossain Mahi said, “We went to Shahbagh Police Station to collect news. Immediately after arriving there, we were deliberately obstructed from gathering information in a pre-planned manner. At one point, we were suddenly attacked. One after another, ten of us were brutally beaten. Shahbagh Police remained silent spectators.”PROTESTS AT JNU Jagannath University Central Students’ Union brought out a protest march on campus last night, condemning the attack on Ducsu leaders and student journalists by Chhatra Dal activists.

Earlier, leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal’s JnU unit staged a procession, denouncing the circulation of “derogatory images” of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Zaima Rahman on social media.