30 students, teachers injured in attack by Dhamrai park staffers

At least 30 people, including teachers and students of a college, were injured in an attack by staffers of Aladin Park in Dhamrai yesterday evening.

The attack took place around 5:30pm following an argument over "missing mobile phones" from lockers inside the park, said students and teachers of Banophool Adibashi Green Heart School and College. The college authorities said that seven of the injured were in critical condition and had been admitted to different hospitals.

Many, including female students, received hospital treatment for their injuries. One student in critical condition was admitted to the neuro ICU, while another was undergoing treatment in the operation theatre, said Dr Hasan, emergency medical officer at Enam Medical College Hospital. Others were receiving treatment at various hospitals in Savar and Dhaka.

Sudip Kumar Mondal, principal of the college, told The Daily Star that students had rented lockers to store their mobile phones, but some of the devices went missing.

"During an argument over the issue, park staffers and locals attacked the students and teachers. All 12 buses were vandalised. We have filed a primary complaint with Dhamrai Police Station over the attack," he said.

According to students and teachers, at least 600 students and teachers visited Aladin Park. They stored their mobile phones and belongings in lockers, but upon preparing to leave, found that some mobile phones and valuables were missing. An argument broke out between the students and park staff. At one stage, the staff, joined by locals, attacked the students and teachers with iron rods, hammers, sticks, and sharp weapons. 

Contacted, Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Dhamrai Police Station, told The Daily Star that a complaint had been filed regarding the attack.

"We have detained four employees of the park in connection with the incident," he said.

Despite multiple attempts, the owner of the park could not be reached for comment. According to locals and police, he went into hiding after the incident.