7 injured as two factions of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement clash at central office

At least seven members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement were injured as reportedly two factions of the platform clashed at its central office.

The incident took place at the platform's central office in Banglamotor of the capital this evening (21 January), according to members of the platform.

The injured have been sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for treatment.

Confirming the matter, Inspector Faruk, in-charge of DMCH police outpost, said, "Some injured students have come from Banglamotor to seek treatment at the Emergency Department. All of them are being treated." 

The injured have been identified as - Imran Sarker, 21, of East West University; Jannatul Mim, 22, of Tejgaon College; Abrar, 22; Al Amin; 25; Afsar Uddin, 25; Asif, 24, of Kabi Nazrul College; and Masud, 24, of Boro Madrasah in Demra. 

Speaking about the reported clash, one of the injured, Al Amin claimed, "One of our comrades was attacked during a views-exchange meeting of the Jatrabari Zone coordinators on Monday [20 January]. When we came to talk about this in the central office in this regard we were attacked."

Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement issued a press statement, signed by the organisation's cell secretary Zahid Ahsan, over today's incident .

"This afternoon, some misguided people came to the central office of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at Bangla Motor and started shouting various unpleasant slogans. At one point, they forcibly closed the gate of the office. This caused panic among the people in the office. 

"Realising the seriousness of the situation, central executive committee members Rifat Rashid, Ahnaf Saeed Khan, Naeem Abedin, and Asad Bin Roni immediately went there to calm the situation and listen to the demands of the people who came. However, instead of cooperating, they attacked the executive committee members. 

"Later, when other leaders and activists arrived at the central office, the instigators were forced to leave the office premises," reads the statement.

"Although some of the people responsible for today's undesirable situation were participants in the mass uprising, none of them are organisationally associated with the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement," adds the statement. 

The student organisation also said an internal investigation committee has been formed to investigate the incident.

"Legal action will be taken against the persons involved," it added.