Police have filed a case over Tuesday’s student protests, vandalism, and clashes inside and outside the Secretariat demanding the resignation of the education adviser and education secretary. The case, lodged Tuesday night, lists 1,200 unidentified individuals as accused.
Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khalid Mansur told the media on Wednesday that the charges in the complaint include obstructing police duties, interfering with official responsibilities, vandalising the Secretariat, and damaging government property.
On Monday, 29 people, including students, were killed and over 150 injured when a Bangladesh Air Force jet crashed into Milestone School and College in the capital. Following the tragic incident, authorities announced the postponement of Tuesday’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam at around 3am – when most students were asleep.
This delayed announcement led to widespread confusion among examinees across the country, fueling student outrage.
In response, students from various educational institutions in Dhaka gathered in front of the Secretariat at around 2:30pm on Wednesday and began protesting, demanding the resignations of the education adviser and secretary.
After over an hour and a half of chanting slogans, students forced open the Secretariat’s main gate and entered the premises, vandalising at least 20 vehicles during the intrusion.
Police and military personnel eventually drove the students out, carrying out baton charges on the students. Sound grenades and tear gas shells were also fired. Students retaliated by hurling bricks and stones into the Secretariat compound from outside for some time.
Later, the students regrouped near the GPO intersection and High Court area adjacent to the Secretariat. Police fired tear gas and chased the protesters to disperse them, and the students again responded by throwing bricks at the police.
By 6pm, at least 75 students had been injured in the clashes and were treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Several police and military personnel were also injured in the incident.