Police arrested Akash Chowdhury, an expelled Jamaat-e-Islami activist, for his alleged involvement in attacking a Democratic Student Alliance protest in Chattogram on Sunday.
Akash was arrested from the city’s Kotwali area at around 2:45pm.
The arrested is the son of Nesar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, former councilor of Satkania municipality’s Ward-7. Jamaat-e-Islami expelled him on May 30 following public outrage over the attack.
According to the police, there are several criminal cases – including murder and explosives charges – pending against him Akash.
The Democratic Student Alliance had organised a protest rally on Wednesday against the acquittal of Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam for crimes against humanity charges during the 1971 Liberation War. Shortly after the programme began, members of the newly-formed “Anti-Shahbagh Alliance” arrived with a counter-protest. When the two groups clashed at around 3:30 pm, police tried to disperse them. During this, members of the opposing group attacked student activists, leaving 12 injured.
Police detained Obaidur and Selim from the spot and filed a case under the Speedy Trial Act at Kotwali Police Station, naming the two arrestees and 20 unidentified persons as accused.
A video of the incident subsequently went viral on Facebook showing Akash Chowdhury kicking a woman and another person from behind. The clip shows students taking shelter near the Chattogram Press Club building after the attack, with a police member present. Akash is seen sneaking behind the activists and suddenly kicking two people – first a male activist, then turning to kick a female participant.
On May 30, Jamaat issued a statement announcing Akash Chowdhury’s expulsion for kicking the woman during the student rally.
