Condemning the filing of an attempt-to-murder case against the demonstrating students of seven colleges here, BNP on Saturday demanded the government immediately withdraw it.
“Police charged batons and fired bullets on the students of seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University as they’re staging demonstration demanding their exam schedule. But police filed a case accusing 1,200 students of obstructing their duties and attempting to murder,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said the government has once again exposed that the country has now become a police state through filing such a case against the students.
On Thursday, at least 10 students were injured as police charged batons and fired teargas shells to disperse them during their agitation at Shahbagh demanding that the dates for their pending Master’s and Honour’s exams be announced.
Later at night, Shahbagh Police filed a case against 1,200 unnamed students of the seven colleges on charge of obstructing their duties and attempting to murder.
Describing the case as an unprecedented one, Rizvi said such activities of the government are tantamount to pushing the country toward a dark tunnel. “Police didn’t file the case without the order of the government or the Home Minister. I, on behalf of BNP, strongly denounce the police attack on the students and filling of the case against theme. We demand immediate withdrawal of the case.”
He also demanded the government immediately release those students arrested, and make sure that they can sit for their exams.
The BNP leader also urged the government to ensure proper treatment of those suffered injuries in the police attack.
Rizvi said though the students were peacefully staging demonstration to realise their justified demand, police attacked them and sprayed them with bullets. “What type of awful misrule we’re going through now?”
He said the current government actually gets scared of any agitation as it is not elected by people.
