Gazipur violence: OC suspended, GMP commissioner apologises

Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Arifur Rahman has been suspended on charges of negligence of duty in the attack on leaders and activists of the Students Against Discrimination, which spearheaded last year’s mass uprising, in Gazipur.

GMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Ops) Taherul Haque Chauhan confirmed the matter around 6:00pm.

Earlier, in the afternoon, GMP Commissioner Nazmul Karim Khan went to the protest programme of the anti-discrimination student movement on Rajbari Road in front of the Gazipur District Commissioner’s Office and apologised to the protesters on behalf of the force.

“On behalf of the police force, I apologise for the incident that happened last night. I admit my failure. No attacker will be spared, every attack will be responded to. Action will be taken against all the police for their delayed response.”

“I have heard that OC responded to your call after two hours. I want to say that those who have conspired with these fascists cannot be allowed to serve in the police,” said the police official addressing the protesters.

He also assured them that the police would not allow those who have oppressed the country for the past 17 years “to raise their heads again”.

He said the government has already taken strong steps “to suppress the Awami fascism”.

He said 16 people have already been arrested for their alleged involvement in last night’s incident.

“A combing operation will be conducted tonight. All those involved in the incident will be brought under the book,” he added.

Earlier, the home ministry announced Operation Devil Hunt across the country from today to maintain law and order following yesterday’s attack on “students and public” in Gazipur.

Convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organiser of the National Nagorik Committee and Central Coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Sarjis Alam and other leaders and activists of the organisation were present among the protesters.

After the police commissioner’s assurance, the leaders and activists withdrew their protest programme around 5:00pm.

Around 9:00pm yesterday, a group of people attacked the residence of former liberation war affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque in Gazipur.

According to witnesses, suspecting them as robbers, a section of the locals intervened and beat up some people, injuring at least 18 people.

However, Md Nasir, brother of one of the injured, gave a different account of the events of last night.

He said some people lured several July uprising leaders and activists into a house and locked them in a room. He told Prothom Alo that they had been severely beaten and hacked with sharp weapons there.

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