Pak mission to get enhanced security
Police on Thursday foiled for the second day Ganajagaran Mancha’s bid to lay siege to the Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka. At least two Ganajagaran Mancha activists, including its spokesman Imran H Sarker, were injured as law enforcers charged batons to disperse the anti-war criminal protestors who tried to lay siege to the High Commission in the city’s Gulshan area. The police also picked up at least 10 activists, the Mancha alleged. Later in the day, Ganajagaran leader Maruf Rasul at a press conference in front of United Hospital in Gulshan announced a fresh programme to protest against the police assault on their peaceful protest. The Mancha will organize a countrywide demonstration along with a rally at Shahbagh in the capital on Friday afternoon, Maruf said.
Injured in police baton charge, Imran H Sarker was first admitted to the LabAid Hospital in Gulshan and later shifted to the United Hospital, while freedom fighter Abul Kalam Azad was admitted to a private clinic.
The Mancha activists assembled at Gulshan-2 to protest against the interference of Pakistan government in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, which is related to the execution of Jamaat leader Quader Mollah who committed crimes against humanity during the Liberation War and collaborated with the Pakistani army.
Eyewitness said around 3pm, more than 100 activists and relatives of Liberation War martyrs gathered in front of Landmark Building at Gulshan-2, demanding the withdrawal of all diplomatic ties with Pakistan.
The authorities, as a cautionary measure, deployed additional forces and kept water cannons and anti-riots vehicles ready.
They also put up barricades on the road. When the activists were about to start their rally, the police tried to disperse them, which triggered a scuffle between the protestors and the police. As the activists tried to move forward by breaking the barricades, the police charged batons on the activists, leaving at least two people injured.
The police arrested at least 10 Ganajagaran activists, including Shammi Akter, Sheikh Salma, Annaya Azad, son of late prominent writer Humayun Azad, Rowshun Ara Mita and Jahangir, the activists alleged.
Alleging indiscriminate use of batons on the activists, Imran H Sarker said the male police personnel detained their female activists. He also threatened to continue the movement despite the police attacks.
However, additional deputy inspector general of police Shahabuddin claimed that to keep the law and order situation under control, the police ‘systematically’ dispersed the protestors. There are several diplomatic offices in the area and it was a very sensitive zone, he added.
He also said he did not know that many activists were actually detained from the spot. At that time, Imran tried to brief the reporters about the police assault, but the police again charged baton, leaving Imran and freedom fighter Abul Kalam injured.
Condemning the police attack, cultural activist and ruling party’s law-maker Tarana Halim, who also joined the protest, said, ‘‘The government did not attack us, it was the police who assaulted us.” Why the police carried out the attack and which police official ordered to launch the attack, must be found out immediately, she added.
Talking to The Independent, inspector Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Gulsan Police Station, said, “The detained Ganajagaran activists Monir, Nayan, Shipra Bose, Lopa and Shammi Akhter were released in the evening.”
Earlier, on Wednesday, Mancha activists had tried to sit in front of Pakistani High Commission, but the police dispered them by using batons when some activists hurled shoes inside the chancery compound, chanting slogans against Pakistan. At least three Mancha activists were injured in the police action. Among the three injured was Bappaditya Basu, president of Bangladesh Chhatra Maitri. Basu was admitted to United Hospital in Gulshan.
Meanwhile, the government has asked law enforcing agencies to strengthen the security of the Pakistan High Commission and residences of its diplomats in Dhaka in response to the demonstration by the activists of Ganajagaran Mancha which demands a cut in diplomatic ties with Pakistan.
The home ministry on Thursday issued letters to authorities concerned asking them to take necessary measures in this regard, ministry sources said.
According to the letter, the home ministry directed the intelligence agencies to maintain extra vigilance during the movement of Pakistani diplomats to avoid any untoward and embarrassing situation, sources added.
The move followed a letter issued by the foreign ministry in view of the prevailing political situation and demonstration in front of the Pakistan High Commission by the Ganajagaran Mancha.
State minister for home affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku told The Independent that the government is determined to take every possible measure to ensure protection and security of the Pakistani diplomats and high-commission staff.
“The law enforcement and intelligence agencies have already taken security measures to provide safety nets for them to ensure that nobody could create any problems,” he said.
-With The Independent input
