A clash broke out Friday night in Kakrail, Dhaka, between Gono Adhikar Parishad and Jatiya Party (JAPA)activists.
Following this, law enforcement officials along with officials of security forces swooped on Gono Odhikhar Parishad (GOP) activities, leaving GOP President Nurul Haque Nur severely injured.
- Nur is currently in ICU at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital with head injuries and a broken nose.
- Over 50 others were also injured in the two rounds of violence.
Why it matters:
- Nur, a former VP of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU), is a key figure in Bangladesh's July uprising.
- His injury triggered nationwide condemnation from opposition parties, student groups, and Islamist organizations.
What happened:
- The Gono Adhikar Parishad staged a protest in the capital's Kakrail demanding:
- Ban of Jatiya Party politics and registration.
- Arrest of JAPA chairman GM Quader.
- JAPA leaders called the protest illegal.
- Afterward, Nur doubled down on Facebook, threatening to lay siege to the Secretariat if demands weren't met.
- Later that evening:
- A procession reached Paltan after which it was allegedly atacked by Jatiya Party activists with support of AL/Jubo League supporters.
- Clashes spread, leading to police baton charges.
- When police instructions to vacate the area wasn't heeded to, law enforcers swooped on the protesters, police claim.
- ISPR stated that both sides were requested to remain calm, to leave peacefully, and to resolve their differences peacefully while respecting the existing laws of the country.
Between the lines:
- Gono Adhikar leaders claim the army and police acted aggressively, worsening the situation.
- The army's public statement framed the violence as "mob attacks," saying law enforcement had no choice but to use force. Five army personnel were reportedly injured.
- Young leaders of the 2024 uprising allege the violence was part of a "Plan-B" to rehabilitate Awami League via Jatiya Party, with possible Indian backing.
'Attempt to bring back AL'
Right after the attack on Nur, young leaders who led the 2024 uprising became active on social media Facebook.
- Sarjis Alam wrote in a post: "Plan-B is to bring back the League by leaning on Jatiya Party. For this reason, there is zero tolerance regarding Jatiya Party, and both North Para and South Para have united. This is the main reason behind the brutal attack on Nur bhai."
- Later, posting a video of the attack on Nur, Sarjis wrote in the caption, "I do not see this barbaric bloody attack by the army on Nur bhai, one of the comrades of the anti-fascist struggle and Hasina-fall movement, as a normal attack. The army never takes a step without orders from above."
- Another leader of the uprising, Hasnat Abdullah, wrote, "It started with the plan of reformed Awami League, which I revealed on 11 March. Even though that plan failed, they did not stop. The same group has now chosen Jatiya Party to rehabilitate Awami League. In this game to bring back Awami League through Jatiya Party with India's direct support, our Nur bhai shed the first blood."
Reactions:
- BNP condemned the attack but avoided direct blame.
- Khelafat Majlis called it a "cowardly attempt" to silence pro-independence voices.
- Jamaat-e-Islami directly blamed Jatiya Party "terrorists" and Awami League's "fascist allies."
- Student groups (Chhatra Dal, NCP) staged protest marches, demanded punishment.
- Activists on social media accused the army and police of orchestrating the attack under political orders.
What's next:
- Nur remains in critical condition; doctors say the next 48 hours are crucial.
- The government, army, and opposition are trading blame, with tensions spreading across Dhaka.
- Gono Adhikar Parishad vows to escalate if perpetrators are not punished.
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