Arrest of Stamford Univ Students: Protesters question role of law enforcers

"People are no longer afraid of muggers on the streets, they are afraid of police. People are afraid of being framed for carrying yaba or cannabis as police insert those into their pockets."

Leaders of Bangladesh Shadharon Chhatra Odhikar Parishad made the remarks while protesting the arrest of students Shahedul Islam Sifat and Shipra Debnath, who were the crew members accompanying the slain Major (Retired) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan.

While the rally was going on in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka, Bamna Police in Sifat's ancestral district Barguna, baton-charged a peaceful human chain and beat up students and locals demanding his release.

At least 10 people were injured in the incident, protesters said.

Bamna Police Officer-in-Charge Elias Ali termed the protest anti-government. "I came to know that a group of miscreants were forming a human chain against the state without our permission. I dispersed them and told them that the government's image will be tarnished [if they continue]."

Witnesses said that Sifat's classmates arranged the human chain programme at college road area around 12pm. They had announced the programme earlier.

"Suddenly a police team came and snatched the banner during a peaceful human chain," they said.

"Even then the human chain continued peacefully, but the OC ordered policemen to charge with sticks," they added.

Rubel, who was injured in the police baton-charge, said they have known Sifat as a "good boy" and don't believe the drug allegations brought against him by the police.

"That is why I participated at the rally demanding his release. But the police have branded us as miscreants," he said.

Witnesses said, even the OC himself charged batons on the protesters.

Sifat's grandfather Ayub Ali Hawladar, who is a local BNP leader, also took part in the programme. Police have threatened him as well.

"What police did today was not right at all," Ayub Ali, also a former chairman of Bamna Union, said.

This correspondent attempted to reach Barguna Superintendent of Police Maruf Hossain multiple times but he did not receive phone calls.

Major (Retd) Sinha, who used to make travel videos for his YouTube channel, went to Cox's Bazar for filming with Stamford students Shipra, Sifat and Tahsin Rifat Nur. Sinha was shot dead by police at a checkpost on July 31.

Police charged both Sifat and Shipra with possession of drugs while Sifat was also charged for murder. Rifat was handed over to his parents.

PROTEST IN DHAKA

Calls for the students' release is getting louder as different organisations and individuals including noted filmmakers and students and teachers of Stamford University are raising their voices demanding the release of the two young film students.

At a rally in front of Jatiya Press Club yesterday, organised by Chhatra Adhikar Parishad's private university committee, the student leaders heavily criticised the police.

"One is down, sir…another captured – what kind of language is this from our policemen? Is this why we pay taxes for their salaries?" asked Tarek Rahman, a joint convener of the platform.

He said there should be equity and justice prevailing in a country like Bangladesh which was liberated through a bloody war.

They said the prime witness of Sinha's murder case, Sifat, to whom the state should provide security, is locked up in jail after police accused him of murder and drug possession.

Muhammad Rashed Khan, another leader of the student platform, said the extra-judicial killings by police are all state-sponsored.

"Such OC like Pradeep is not only at Teknaf… everywhere, from Teknaf to Tetulia, there are officers like OC Pradeep who have been involved with extrajudicial killings. The state has made them so," Rashed said.

Criticising police's role, he said those who are killing people indiscriminately without resorting to the law cannot be supported at all.

Meanwhile terming the cases "fictional", students of Stamford University held a rally in front of their Siddheshwari Campus yesterday morning. They demanded unconditional release of their fellow students.

Besides, directors Mostofa Sarwar Farooki and Dipankar Dipon, Wahid Ibn Reza, and actress Jaya Ahsan also demanded release of the young filmmakers using social media platforms.