Death of writer Mushtaq: At least 15 protesters injured in clash with police in Shahbagh

Police clashed with people protesting the death in custody of writer Mushtaq Ahmed in the capital's Shahbagh this evening, leaving at least 15 protesters injured.

The incident took place around 7:00pm in the capital's Shahbagh.

Samajtantrik Chhatra Front central unit General Secretary Rashed Shahriar told The Daily Star that law enforcers barred them when the procession reached the Public Library in Shahbagh.

Police started to take action as the protesters tried to go forward, leaving 15 of them injured, he said.

The scuffle between protesters and police lasted five minutes, Rashed added.

They also fired tear gas shells, he claimed.

Protester Marjia Prova, convener of Nari Shasthya Shurokkha Forum, said police started grabbing the hair of the girls and harassed them verbally. A girl was injured from the sparks of the torch and she has been hospitalised, said Marjia.

"They also chased us towards the [Dhaka University] social sciences building. When we protested and asked why police were in the university campus, it created further chaos, and they started charging batons again and fired tear gas shells," she added.

She claimed that Akib from Chhatra Union and Anik from Samajtantrik Chhatra Front have been detained.

When contacted, Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-charge Mamun-ur-Rashid said, "The demonstrators first hurled brick chips and torches at us, leaving six to seven policemen injured. And then, we protested the attack."

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna zone) Deputy Commissioner Sajjadur Rahman said around 7:45pm at a press briefing that the protesters first hurled torches at them in front of the public library. Then police dispersed the protesters, he said.

He added that the protesters left the area in different groups but some threw brick chips at the law enforcers. At least 14 to 15 policemen were injured during the incident.

"I have also sustained injuries," he added.

He also said, "We have detained two protesters. We will take action against them if we get any evidence against them."