UNB, Dhaka: At least 20 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra Union were injured as police charged baton on them while trying to besiege the DMP Commissioner’s office near Officers’ Club in the city on Sunday protesting the assaults on women on Pahela Baishakh. The incident took place when 100-150 leaders and activists of Chhatra Union were marching towards the DMP Commissioner’s office at Mintoo Road as part of its scheduled besiege programme in protest against sexual harassment of women on the Dhaka University campus on April 14. Witnesses said Chhatra Union activists started marching towards DMP Commissioner’s Office from TSC around 12:00 pm. They reached near Officers’ Club around 12:30 pm defying police obstructions at Doel Chhattar, High Court Mazar, Matshaya Bhaban areas. They held a rally there for half an hour halting vehicular movement from Kakrail crossing to Moghbazar crossing. At one stage, police charged baton and lobbed one tear gas cell to disperse the demonstrators, leaving 20 people, including central president of Bangladesh Chhatra Union Hasan Tareq, injured. Police also picked up three activists of Chhatra Union from the spot. Among the injured, 11 were taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Talking to reporters after the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ramna Division) Abdul Baten said police charged baton to disperse the agitators as they first attacked police throwing brickbats.
