At least 13 people, including students, journalists, and police officers, were injured in a clash between Jagannath University (JnU) students and police at Murgitola Square in Old Dhaka.
The incident, which occurred around 1am early Tuesday, reportedly originated from the theft of a pair of shoes from the residence of a 19th-batch student of the university’s Law and Land Administration department.
According to witnesses, students identified a resident named Michael through CCTV footage and subsequently detained him. However, a group of locals later intervened and forcibly freed Michael from the students’ custody, leading to an initial altercation and physical scuffle.
In protest, hundreds of students gathered at the scene to locate the accused individuals, who were believed to be hiding in a nearby building.
Tensions escalated when police arrived and attempted to move the suspects under security. A clash broke out as students tried to take the suspects into their own custody, prompting police to initiate a baton charge to disperse the crowd.
Eyewitnesses claimed that at least eight students were injured in the police action. Among the injured were Limon Islam, the university correspondent for Amar Desh and general secretary of the Jagannath University Press Club, and Apurba Roy, the JnU representative for Dainik Somoy.
Apurba said he was struck by a police officer’s baton while taking photographs, sustaining injuries to his leg and other parts of his body.
Azharul Islam, a 19th-batch Law student, reported that he was standing peacefully when the police began the charge, resulting in a head injury that required three stitches.
Demra Division’s Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Mir Muhsin Masud said the situation arose from the shoe theft incident.
He claimed that a section of the students attempted to snatch the suspect away from police custody, forcing the officers to use batons to regain control. He further alleged that five police officers were injured during the confrontation.
Following the clash, police detained two individuals, identified as Michael and Ashikur Rahman Ashik, in connection with the theft.
In response to the police action, students blocked Murgitola Square from 2:30am to 3:30am, causing significant traffic congestion in the area.
JnU Proctor Nasir Uddin said he was aware of the incident and assured that the allegations of a police baton charge on students would be investigated with importance and discussed with senior police officials.
