Dhaka: At least seven police personnel, including a deputy and an assistant commissioner of police from the Ramna division, were injured today in an attack by protesters rallying against violence on women at the Hotel InterContinental intersection in the capital's Shahbagh area.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the injured officers include Ramna Division Deputy Police Commissioner Md. Masud Alam, Assistant Commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun, two female police personnel, and three male constables. Among them, Assistant Commissioner Mamun sustained critical injuries, as noted in a police press release.
The official statement detailed that a group of 60 to 70 protesters, comprising both men and women, were intercepted by police at the Hotel InterContinental intersection around 3:35 PM as they attempted to move towards Jamuna, the official residence of the Chief Adviser. The protesters reportedly used women as shields to breach the police barricade.
The press release further explained that police initially requested the protesters to disperse, emphasizing the importance of securing nearby state installations and maintaining normal traffic flow. However, the protesters responded violently, engaging in a scuffle with the police and throwing brickbats and stones, resulting in injuries to several officers.
Police eventually managed to bring the situation under control by dispersing the crowd. Authorities are now taking legal action against those identified as being involved in the assault on police forces.