Gonojagoron Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarkar and his activists were attacked yesterday for the second time within a span of 24 hours in the capital's Shahbagh area.

Imran said 20-25 miscreants attacked them in front of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) around 5:00pm when they were walking towards Paribagh after holding a press briefing at Shahbagh.

He said the miscreants threw bricks and assaulted the activists of the Mancha. They entered BSMMU premises to save themselves.

"A brick chip hit my head, but I was protected by them [Mancha activists]," Imran told The Daily Star. "I think the same people attacked me on the court premises and yesterday [Thursday]."

Earlier, on July 16, Imran came under attack while walking out of a Dhaka court after securing bail in a defamation case filed for his "derogatory" remarks about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

On Thursday, 10-12 people, carrying sticks, scrap wood, and bricks, attacked Imran and his activists when they were holding a fund-raiser for the flood victims.

Protesting the attack, the mancha organised a rally at Shahbagh at 4:00pm yesterday. As they sought permission from Shahbagh Police Station for the rally, its officer-in-charge, Abul Hasan, asked them to "come through proper channels", said Imran.

The mancha submitted a letter to the office of Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner yesterday, and then submitted a "received" copy of the letter to Shahbagh Police Station.

But as they went to Shahbagh to hold the rally around 4:00pm, the OC of Shahbagh police did not allow them, citing security reasons, he added.

Imran then held a press briefing there instantly. When they were returning after the end of the briefing, they came under attack, he said.

Over Thursday's attack, he said they filed a case with the police station on that night and handed over a mobile phone and a print photograph, which the attackers left while fleeing, yet none was arrested, he added.

"...rather police did not allow us to hold the rally. It seems that the government does not want us to work for the flood victims," Imran said.

After yesterday's attack, Imran wrote on his verified Facebook wall: "Was attacked again before PG hospital while returning from Shahbagh. They won't stop until gagging our voice. The message is clear: You can't speak up if you want to live in this country."

Jafar Ali Biswas, officer in charge (investigation) of Shahbagh Police Station, said Gonojagorom Mancha men including Imran held a “programme” at Shahbagh, and when returning to Paribagh, “some people” threw “guava” at them. “But none was injured...we could not identify the people who threw guava. We are looking into the matter.”

The Daily Star could not get a comment from the Shahbagh OC despite repeated attempts.