The officer-in-charge (OC) of Hathazari Model Police Station in Chattogram has been withdrawn from duty following a violent clash that erupted over a Facebook post, leaving over 100 people injured.
OC Abu Kawser Mahmud was withdrawn late Sunday night, around 11pm, confirmed Kazi Tarek Aziz, additional superintendent of police (Hathazari Circle).
“The OC has been placed on leave, as far as I am aware,” said ASP Tarek Aziz, without providing further comments on the decision.
The removal came hours after authorities from the Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Uloom Muinul Islam Hathazari Madrasa held a press conference on Sunday afternoon, demanding the OC’s immediate withdrawal. They accused him of inaction during an attack on their students during the unrest.
The administrative move comes in the aftermath of a serious clash on September 6 that left at least 120 people injured.
The incident occurred in the Hathazari upazila when tensions flared between students of Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Uloom Moinul Islam Hathazari Madrasa and local supporters of the Jashn-e-Julus procession over an objectionable post on Facebook by a young man identified as Arian Ibrahim.
Madrasa students blocked roads in Hathazari, disrupting traffic on both the Chattogram-Khagrachari and Chattogram-Rangamati highways for several hours.
The protests turned violent as demonstrators vandalised vehicles participating in the Jashn-e-Julus procession.
Following the incident, the local administration issued Section 144 on Saturday evening, effective from 10pm Saturday until 3pm Sunday.
Meanwhile, Arian Ibrahim, son of Muhammad Musa of Ward-3 under Hathazari municipality, was arrested by district police for his controversial post. After his arrest, he released a video message apologising for his actions.
