Attack on indigenous students: Case filed against 300 unknown individuals
Yesterday, two individuals, identified as Arif Al Khabir and Md Abbas, who were detained for their involvement in the attack have also been named as accused in the case
A case has been filed against 300 unknown individuals in connection with an attack on indigenous students in front of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) in Motijheel on 15 January.
Yesterday, two individuals, identified as Arif Al Khabir and Md Abbas, who were detained for their involvement in the attack have also been named as accused in the case, Motijheel Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mejbah Uddin told The Business Standard.
Jagdish Chakma, the president of the Indigenous Students Association (Dhaka Metropolitan), filed the case today (17 January) with the police station, the OC said.
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"We are working to arrest those involved," he added.
Attack in front of NCTB building
At least nine people were injured on Wednesday (15 January) in violence during simultaneous protest programmes by two groups — one supporting and the other opposing the removal of the image of graffiti with the word "Adivasi" in a textbook in front of the NCTB building in Dhaka.
The two groups are- the Aggrieved Indigenous Students and the Students for Sovereignty. The latter has been widely accused of launching the attack on the former, with two of its members apprehended the next day by the police for their involvement in the attacks.
Police said the detainees- Arif Al Khabir and Md Abbas - also used bandages and viodin, an ointment, to fake injuries on their heads.
The interim government in a statement condemned the attack and launched an investigation over the incident.
"The Interim Government strongly condemns the attack on Wednesday, 15 January, on the peaceful gathering of a group of ethnic minority students in front of NTCB, Motijheel. The government has ordered an investigation into the attack, and two persons have already been arrested in this connection. Other perpetrators are being identified and will soon be arrested. All miscreants will be brought to justice," it said in a statement published on the Facebook handle of Shaifqul Alam, press secretary to the Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus.
"The government warns that anyone involved in activities that harm harmony, peace, and law and order shall face stern actions without discrimination," the statement also said.
Several advisers of the interim government, including Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul, have also condemned the attacks and promised to bring those responsible to book.
Besides, the National Citizens' Committee bashed the Students for Sovereignty for its "clear role" in the violence.
In a statement issued to media on 15 January, the platform said it feels that the "Students for Sovereignty has not acted responsibly in today's violence by announcing a protest program at the same venue where a rally was already pre-announced under the banner of Aggrieved Indigenous Students".
The Citizens' Committee alleged that the Students for Sovereignty's decision "created deliberate tension".
The attack also drew criticism from various political parties, civil society organisations and netizens on social media platforms.
