A legal notice has been sent demanding the filing of a case against those responsible for attacking two secretaries of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) and several other hall parliament leaders inside Shahbagh Police Station, it was announced on Tuesday.
Ducsu Social Service Secretary Md Jubayer Bin Neshari, known as AB Jubayer, sent the notice on Tuesday through Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Mohammad Saddam Hossain.
The notice has been sent to the Senior Secretary of the Public Security Division, Inspector General of Bangladesh Police, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Division, and the Officer-in-Charge of Shahbagh Police Station.
According to the notice, on 23 April around 6:30pm, a fake photocard of Abdullah Al Mahmud, a student of Dhaka University’s Salimullah Muslim Hall, was circulated on social media. When he went to Shahbagh Police Station to file a complaint, 100-120 Chhatra Dal leaders and activists present there confined him.
When Md Sayeduzzaman Nur Alvee, an executive member of Surya Sen Hall parliament, went to the spot upon receiving news, he was also beaten. Later, Ducsu Social Service Secretary AB Jubayer and several other Ducsu secretaries and representatives went to the police station around 7:00 pm.
The notice alleges that after entering the police station, Chhatra Dal activist Junayed Abrar started indiscriminately punching and kicking AB Jubayer. At that time, Alamin, Shah Muhammad Rubayet and Saikat Morshed struck him on the head, causing severe injuries.
Simultaneously, Chhatra Dal activists Ratul and Radil allegedly struck Musaddiq Ali Ibn Mohammad, Ducsu Secretary of Literature and Culture, on the head with intent to kill.
When Jubayer and Musaddiq took refuge in a room of the police station to escape the attack, the attackers surrounded them there and struck them again. Later, students present rescued the injured and took them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
After completing treatment, when AB Jubayer went to Shahbagh Police Station on 26 April to file a specific complaint, the Officer-in-Charge refused to register it as an FIR, the notice states.
Citing Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Rule 244(a) of the Police Regulations of Bengal 1943, and the Nurjahan Begum v Bangladesh case, the notice says that upon receiving information about a cognizable offence, police are bound to register an FIR.
Ducsu Social Service Secretary AB Jubayer said, “Although we were attacked openly inside the police station, the police administration has not taken any effective action so far. When we tried to file a complaint legally, they delayed in accepting it, which is completely illegal.”
“According to Section 154 of the CrPC, upon receiving information about a cognizable offence, police are bound to register an FIR. But they are not following the law,” he said.
Ducsu Secretary of Literature and Culture Musaddiq Ali Ibn Mohammad said, “Ducsu representatives were attacked inside the police station in the presence of cameras. Yet the case is not being accepted. We hope the police administration will accept the case so that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
