The Gono Odhikar Parishad has called for the resignation of Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury over "police and security forces brutality" on Party President and former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur and dozens of others.
Shakil Uzzaman, higher council member and office coordinator of the GOP, told Stream, "We demand the resignation of the home adviser. This attack occurred while he is in the office. We have heard no explanation from him so far. Without his endorsement, such an attack would not have been possible.
"The press secretary visited the hospital yesterday and said the government is investigating the incident. But the way we understand it, this kind of attack is not possible without the consent of the government in the first place. Aren't they aware of anything about it? And if they are not in the know, then what did their intelligence agencies do?"
When asked about what transpired that day, Shakil alleged that the police and army attacked them unprovocatively, while they were conducting a press brief in front of the GOP office in the Kakrail area.
"Police and army suddenly attacked us while we were conducting a press brief in front of our office. They have jointly carried out a brutal attack on us," he said, adding, "It was not as if we blocked the road; it was in front of our office, in the presence of media, during a running press brief, even journalists were injured."
Shakil, moreover, claimed that the attack marks an agenda that serves to reinstate the Awami League with Jatiya Party as the enabler.
"Those who were involved in the attack have an agenda to rehabilitate the Awami League via Jatiya Party."
In addition, Shakil told Stream that a protest rally has been called for 3pm on Saturday in front of the GOP central office, which will be joined by leaders from different political parties.
Meanwhile, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has released a statement in the middle of the night (30 August) saying Army joined Police in "bringing the situation under control" when "a clash broke out between leaders and activists from two political parties, resulting in chase and counterchase"
The statement claims that several policemen were attacked and injured.
It says, despite repeated pleas to remain calm, "certain party activists ignored the calls and tried to incite unrest through mob violence."
"They launched an organised attack on law enforcement personnel," the statement claimed, saying five army personnel were injured in Friday's incident.
"People's Republic of Bangladesh Government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of mob violence.", the statement said, adding that the military is always ready to take a tough stance against mob violence to restore public confidence, safety, and security.
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