We intercepted their bike as per rules. They were not wearing helmets and failed to show proper documents. Then the studentds launched an attack on us.

— Traffic Sergeant Monirul

Three Barishal University students were arrested and subsequently released between Tuesday night and early yesterday after attacking four traffic policemen following filing of cases against them as they failed to  produce valid documents for their motorbike.

After their arrests, some BU students blocked the Dhaka-Kuakata Highway for half an hour from 10 pm. Then a  meeting involving university authorities and law enforcement took place, after which the arrested students - Shariful Islam, Alvi Hossen, and Ramzan Sohag - were released at 1:30 am yesterday following an apology.

As per traffic sergeant Monirul, he intercepted a bike of Shariful in front of Barishal Sher E Bangla Medical College Hospital on Tuesday night, following which an argument broke out between them.

Later, the students re-grouped and launched an attack on Monirul and three of his associates, he claimed.

"They also snatched away our wireless and body camera," he alleged.

Then police from Kotwali Police Station arrived, rescued them, and made the arrests, he said.

"One of my colleagues named Mostofa is currently admitted at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College with serious injuries. The rest of us left the facility following first aid," he added.

"We intercepted the bike as per rules. They were not wearing helmets and failed to show proper documents," he said.

As the news of the arrests spread, BU students blocked the Dhaka Kuakata highway. After half an hour later, at around 10:30 pm, they left the road with the assurance of a compromise by the university administration.

A meeting then took place at Barisal Kotwali Model Police Station in the presence of the police commissioner, university administration officials, and students after midnight, following which the detained students were released.

Contacted, BU Proctor Md Khorshed Alam,said, "Attack on policemen is not acceptable. The students realised their mistake and expressed their remorse in writing to the police station."

Meanwhile, Barisal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Saiful Islam said, "We engaged in a discussion with the students in the presence of university faculty members. Next, we will be visiting the injured policemen to gather their account of the incident."

"Following this, a comprehensive investigation will be conducted, and appropriate actions will be taken as deemed necessary," he added.