Police have detained several protesters who gathered at Dhaka’s Purana Paltan on Monday noon as part of their scheduled demonstration, reports UNB.
The protesters were rallying against the detention of seven coordinators of the quota reform movement by the Detective Branch (DB) and the “pressure to withdraw their ongoing movement,” according media report.
Among the arrestees the two are from Dhaka University. They are, Mosaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad of the Bangla Department of Dhaka University and Abid Hasan Rafi, a student of the Arabic Department.
One of the protester student, we were thinking of starting the march from the press club. But it was not possible due to police obstruction. Later we change the place and come to Paltan. But within 5 minutes of starting the procession, the police stopped us and arrested two people. We didn't have sticks or anything like that. We were starting the march peacefully.
On Sunday night, Nahid Islam, a coordinator of the quota reform movement, announced in a video message, while under DB custody, the withdrawal of their protest programme.
Despite this announcement, students from several universities, including Dhaka University, issued statements vowing to continue their protests until their nine-point demands are met.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
