Police use sound grenades, water cannon to disperse march protesting attack on ethnic minority students

Police today (16 January) used water cannons, sound grenades and baton-charging to disperse a procession of students marching against yesterday's attack on ethnic minority students and activists in front of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) building in Dhaka.

Police identified the students as leaders and activists of "leftist organisations." 

The protesters were marching towards the Secretariat when they faced police action.

Removal of 'indigenous' graffiti: 9 hurt in attack in front of NCTB building

"When the leaders and activists of leftist organisations arrived at the Shikkha Bhaban intersection, the police blocked them. However, they broke through the barricade and advanced towards the Secretariat," Shahbagh police station Inspector (Investigation) Md Asaduzzaman told The Business Standard.

"At that time, the police dispersed them," he said

Police charging baton, spraying water on protesters who gathered to protest the attack on ethnic minority students at NCTB premises on 16 january. Photo: TBS.

Witnesses said that police used a water canon and fired sound grenades to disperse the crowd.

Students along with other protesters under the banner "Aggrieved Student-People" had gathered at the Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University at around 12:30pm, demanding the arrest and punishment of those involved in the attack on the enthnic students.

Today's incident follows yesterday's clashes when at least nine people were severely injured in front of the NCTB building during an attack amid protests of two groups — one supporting and the other opposing the removal of the image of a graffiti with the word "Adivasi" in a textbook.

Police charge batons on people gathered to protest the attack on ethnic minority students on 16 January. Photo: TBS

An organisation called "Students for Sovereignty" held protests at the NCTB building yesterday morning with five demands, including punishment for those responsible for adding the word "Adivashi" (indigenous) and an image of a graffiti which, they said, stood for a united India and undermined the July mass uprising in textbooks.

Meanwhile, another group of small ethnic communities, under the banner of "Aggrieved Indigenous Students-People," held protests at the same venue, demanding the reinstatement of the graffiti image in the textbook.

The clash between the two groups broke out at around 12:15pm.